carnival
KAR-nih-vuhl
/ˈkɑːrnɪvəl/
A period of public revelry at a regular time each year, typically involving processions, music, and dancing.
Often implies a sense of wildness, masks, and the temporary overturning of social norms.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Late Latin 'carne vale', meaning 'farewell to meat.' It was the final feast before the fasting period of Lent in the Christian calendar.
Word relationships
- festival: Festival is a general term, while carnival specifically suggests parades and street parties.
Commonly confused with
- fair: A fair often focuses on trade or rides; a carnival is more about costumes and parades.
Word family
- carnivalesque (adjective): resembling a carnival; boisterous
Collocations
- carnival atmosphere
- annual carnival
- carnival float
Example sentences
- "The carnival was a world of its own, a place where the rules of the day were suspended." Literature
Memory hook
Think of 'carnivore' (meat eater) saying 'vale' (goodbye) before Lent. Goodbye to meat, hello to dancing.
When not to use
Do not use for small, private parties; it implies a large-scale public event.
Fun facts
- The Rio Carnival is considered the largest carnival in the world, with two million people on the streets per day.
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