noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌsɛl.ɪˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, US:/ˌsɛl.əˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/
Canada, US:/ˌsɛlˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/
Australian:/ˌsel.əˈbɹæɪ.ʃən/
South-Asia:/sɛ(ː).le.breː.ʃən/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:S EH2 L AH0 B R EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The formal performance of a solemn rite, such as Christian sacrament.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We will attend the Christmas celebration in church.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The celebrations around here for Easter are enjoyable.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act or process of showing appreciation, joy, gratitude and/or remembrance, notably as a social event.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
She jumped in the air in celebration of her success.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jubilation, merriment
Antonyms: lamentation, mourning
4
noun
Meaning 4
A social gathering for entertainment and fun; a party.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We are having a celebration at McDonald's for my dad's new job.
Next week includes celebrations for both Martin's birthday and for his new job.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: See Thesaurus:celebration
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
any joyous diversion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: festivity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: diversion, recreation
Narrower terms: agon, merrymaking, conviviality, jollification, feria, festival, fete, gala, gala affair, jamboree, blowout, Ludi Saeculares, secular games, victory celebration
6
noun
Meaning 6
the public performance of a sacrament or solemn ceremony with all appropriate ritual
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the celebration of marriage
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: solemnization, solemnisation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ritual
7
noun
Meaning 7
a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jubilation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: affair, occasion, social occasion, function, social function
History
Etymology
From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio. Equivalent to celebrate + -ion.
Across languages
Translations
165 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
اِحْتِفَال
(iḥtifāl)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Armenian:
հանդիսավորություն
(handisavorutʻyun)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Azerbaijani:
bayram etmə
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Azerbaijani:
toy-bayram
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Azerbaijani:
təntənə
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Belarusian:
святкава́нне
(svjatkavánnje)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Bulgarian:
че́стване
(čéstvane)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Chinese Mandarin:
慶典 /庆典
(qìngdiǎn)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Dutch:
viering
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Finnish:
juhla
— formal performance of a solemn rite
French:
célébration
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Galician:
celebración
— formal performance of a solemn rite
German:
Feier
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Hindi:
जशन
(jaśan)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Italian:
celebrazione
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Italian:
ricorrenza
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Japanese:
お祝い
(o-iwai)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Japanese:
祝賀
(shukuga)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Japanese:
慶祝
(keishuku)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Korean:
축하
(chukha)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Korean:
경축
(gyeongchuk)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Norwegian Bokmål:
feiring
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Norwegian Nynorsk:
feiring
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Persian:
جشن
(jašn)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Polish:
celebracja
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Polish:
celebra
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Portuguese:
celebração
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Quechua:
raymi
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Romanian:
celebrare
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Romanian:
celebrație
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Romanian:
sărbătorire
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Russian:
пра́зднование
(prázdnovanije)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Russian:
торжество́
(toržestvó)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Russian:
че́ствование
(čéstvovanije)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Sango:
matanga
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Southern Altai:
байрамдаш
(bayramdaš)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Swahili:
sherehe
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Swedish:
firande
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Tajik:
ҷашн
(jašn)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Turkish:
kutlama
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Ukrainian:
святкува́ння
(svjatkuvánnja)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Ukrainian:
торжество́
(toržestvó)
— formal performance of a solemn rite
Dutch:
feestviering
— observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities
Finnish:
juhlinta
— observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities
Finnish:
vietto
— observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities
Ladino:
moed
— observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities
Ladino:
hiba
— observance of a holiday or feast day, as by solemnities
Belarusian:
урачы́стасць
(uračýstascʹ)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Bulgarian:
че́стване
(čéstvane)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Bulgarian:
просла́ва
(prosláva)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Bulgarian:
възхва́ла
(vǎzhvála)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Danish:
fejring
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Dutch:
gedachtenis
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Dutch:
herdenking
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Dutch:
viering
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Finnish:
juhla
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Greek:
γιορτή
(giortí)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Hebrew:
חֲגִיגָה
(khagigá)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Malayalam:
ആഘോഷം
(āghōṣaṁ)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Polish:
uroczystość
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Romanian:
festivitate
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Romanian:
celebrare
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Russian:
че́ствование
(čéstvovanije)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Russian:
прославле́ние
(proslavlénije)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Russian:
восхвале́ние
(vosxvalénije)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Sanskrit:
उत्सव
(utsava)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Serbo-Croatian:
свѐчано̄ст
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Serbo-Croatian:
svèčanōst
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Swahili:
sherehe
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Ukrainian:
урочи́стість
(uročýstistʹ)
— act or process of showing gratitude, appreciation or remembrance
Afrikaans:
selebrasie
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Arabic:
اِحْتِفَال
(iḥtifāl)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Arabic:
مِهْرَجَان
(mihrajān)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Arabic:
مَهْرَجَان
(mahrajān)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Armenian:
հանդիսավորություն
(handisavorutʻyun)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Azerbaijani:
bayram
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Azerbaijani:
şənlik
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Azerbaijani:
qeyd etmə
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Azerbaijani:
toy-bayram
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Belarusian:
святкава́нне
(svjatkavánnje)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Belarusian:
свя́та
(svjáta)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Belarusian:
урачы́стасць
(uračýstascʹ)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Breton:
lid
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Bulgarian:
тържество́
(tǎržestvó)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Bulgarian:
празну́ване
(praznúvane)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Bulgarian:
празненство́
(praznenstvó)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Bulgarian:
пра́зник
(práznik)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Catalan:
celebració
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Chinese Mandarin:
慶祝 /庆祝
(qìngzhù)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Czech:
oslava
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Danish:
fest
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Dutch:
festiviteit
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Dutch:
feest
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Dutch:
fuif
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Dutch:
viering
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Esperanto:
festo
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Estonian:
pidu
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Finnish:
juhlat
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
French:
célébration
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
French:
fête
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Galician:
celebración
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Georgian:
ზეიმი
(zeimi)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
German:
Feier
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
German:
Fest
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Gothic:
𐌳𐌿𐌻𐌸𐍃
(dulþs)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Greek:
γιορτή
(giortí)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Greek:
εορτή
(eortí)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Greek:
γλέντι
(glénti)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Haitian Creole:
selebrasyon
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Hindi:
उत्सव
(utsav)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Italian:
festa
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Japanese:
お祝い
(o-iwai)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Japanese:
祝賀
(shukuga)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Japanese:
慶祝
(keishuku)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Karelian:
pruazniekku
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Kazakh:
мейрам
(meiram)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Korean:
축하
(chukha)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Korean:
축제
(chukje)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Korean:
경축
(gyeongchuk)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Kyrgyz:
майрам
(mayram)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Latin:
convīvium
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Macedonian:
празник
(praznik)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Macedonian:
прослава
(proslava)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Malay:
perayaan
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Norwegian Bokmål:
feiring
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Norwegian Nynorsk:
feiring
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Occitan:
celebracion
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Persian:
جشن
(jašn)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Polish:
uroczystość
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Polish:
świętowanie
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Portuguese:
celebração
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Romanian:
sărbătoare
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Romanian:
petrecere
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Romanian:
serbare
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Russian:
пра́зднование
(prázdnovanije)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Russian:
пра́здник
(prázdnik)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Russian:
торжество́
(toržestvó)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Russian:
пра́зднество
(prázdnestvo)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Northern Sami:
ávvudeapmi
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Northern Sami:
feasta
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Northern Sami:
riemut
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Serbo-Croatian:
пра̑знӣк
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Serbo-Croatian:
про̏слава
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Serbo-Croatian:
prȃznīk
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Serbo-Croatian:
prȍslava
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Slovak:
oslava
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Slovene:
praznovanje
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Spanish:
celebración
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Sranan Tongo:
fesa
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Swahili:
sherehe
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Swedish:
fest
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Tajik:
ҷашн
(jašn)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Tamil:
கொண்டாட்டம்
(koṇṭāṭṭam)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Tatar:
бәйрәм
(bäyräm)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Turkish:
kutlama
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Turkish:
bayram
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Turkmen:
baýram
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Ukrainian:
святкува́ння
(svjatkuvánnja)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Ukrainian:
свя́то
(svjáto)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Ukrainian:
урочи́стість
(uročýstistʹ)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Uyghur:
بايرام
(bayram)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Uzbek:
bayram
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Welsh:
dathliad
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Wolof:
feet
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
Yiddish:
שׂמחה
(simkhe)
— social gathering for entertainment and fun
