adj · 3 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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/ˈfɛstɪv/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛstɪv
CMU ARPABET:F EH1 S T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The room was decked out in festive streamers, with flowers everywhere.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
In the mood to celebrate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Please put the Christmas decorations away, I'm really not in a festive mood.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
offering fun and gaiety
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a festive (or festal) occasion
gay and exciting night life
a merry evening
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gay, festal, merry
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From French festif, from Latin festivus (“pertaining to a feast, gay, lively, joyous”). Equivalent to feast + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
տոնական
(tonakan)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Bulgarian:
празничен
(prazničen)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Bulgarian:
тържествен
(tǎržestven)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Catalan:
festiu
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Czech:
slavnostní
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Danish:
festlig
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Dutch:
feestelijk
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Dutch:
feestelijke
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Esperanto:
festa
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Finnish:
juhlava
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Finnish:
juhlallinen
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
French:
festif
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
French:
festive
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Georgian:
მხიარული
(mxiaruli)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
German:
festlich
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Greek:
γιορτινός
(giortinós)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Greek:
εορταστικός
(eortastikós)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Hungarian:
ünnepi
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Italian:
festivo
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Italian:
festiva
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Latin:
festus
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Latin:
festivus
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Macedonian:
празничен
(prazničen)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Polish:
biesiadny
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Romanian:
festiv
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Russian:
пра́здничный
(prázdničnyj)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
Yiddish:
יום־טובֿדיק
(yontefdik)
— having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration
