What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
celebration
Example
We had a big celebration for my sister's graduation. [celebration: noun]
Example
The whole town came together to celebrate the victory of their local sports team. [celebrate: verb]
festival
Example
The city organizes a music festival every summer with live performances from famous artists. [festival: noun]
Example
During the festival, people wear traditional costumes and participate in traditional dances. [festival: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Celebration is a more commonly used term in everyday language, as it covers a wide range of contexts and can be applied to various types of events. Festival is less common but is widely recognized as a term for large-scale cultural or religious gatherings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between celebration and festival?
Both celebration and festival can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, celebration is generally more versatile and can be employed in a wider range of formality levels.
