- appropriate to or characteristic of a holiday, etc; merry
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fes•tive /ˈfɛstɪv/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- relating to or suitable for a feast or festival;
joyous;
merry:festive decorations; a festive mood.
fes•tive
(fes′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
fes′tive•ly, adv.
fes′tive•ness, n.
- pertaining to or suitable for a feast or festival:festive decorations; a festive meal.
- joyous;
merry:a festive mood.
- Latin fēstīvus merry, equivalent. to fēst(us) festal + -īvus -ive
- 1645–55
fes′tive•ness, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
festive /ˈfɛstɪv/, festivous /ˈfɛstɪvəs/ adj
'festive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
beanfeast
- carnival
- confetti
- convivial
- corroboree
- do
- Eid-ul-Fitr
- festal
- festival
- festive season
- festivity
- gala
- -ive
- jolly
- junket
- merry
- affair
- bowl
- bunting
- cavort
- daisy chain
- encaenia
- favor
- feast
- fete
- fiesta
- genial
- holiday
- joy
- jubilation
- masquerade
- merrymaker
- merrymaking
- mummer
- nightcap
- paean
- palm
- parade
- turkey shoot
- wassail