Origin: Latin suffix -al
Festival has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
"The whole town gathered at the festival to feast on fresh seafood and celebrate the end of the long summer harvest."
A feast or feast day.
"The village gathered for a festival to honor their harvest and give thanks to the gods."
In plain English: A festival is a special celebration where people gather to enjoy music, food, and fun activities together.
"We will attend the music festival this weekend to see our favorite bands perform live."
Usage: A festival is a special celebration or event featuring music, food, and activities, rather than a religious feast day. Use it to describe public gatherings like music festivals or cultural holidays where people come together to enjoy shared experiences.
Pertaining to a feast or feast day. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)
"The festival menu featured traditional dishes prepared specifically for the upcoming harvest celebration."
"The festival season brings out many special holiday events."
Usage: Use festival as an adjective only before nouns like foods or decorations to describe items associated with a celebration, such as festival food or festival lights. Do not use it to modify abstract concepts like "festival spirit" or place it after the noun it modifies.
The word "festival" entered English from the Old French term festival, which originally described something festive or celebratory. It eventually evolved into a noun referring to a feast day, replacing an earlier native English word with a similar meaning.