Added 10 October 2026
carnival
/ˈkɑːnɪvəl/ noun
Latin root: phrase Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about carnival at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A festival marked by merrymaking and processions.
-
A frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment.
it was so funny it was a circus
- A traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
Origin
From Middle French carnaval, from Italian carnevale, possibly from the Latin phrase carnem levāmen (“meat dismissal”). Other scholars suggest Latin carnuālia (“meat-based country feast”) or carrus nāvālis (“boat wagon; float”) instead. Doublet of carnaval.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)