English · Word Candidate

carnival

/ˈkɑːnɪvəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: carnivals · carnivaling · carnivalling · carnivaled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.

Noun

Examples

Carnival of Brazil

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A festive occasion marked by parades and sometimes special foods and other entertainment.

Noun

Examples

Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To move about playfully or wildly.

VerbRegister: literary

Examples

The spot is a marvel of beauty and taste; and here, where dust and sun carnivaled for so many years, thousands of every class congregate to listen each evening to music discoursed for the amusement of oi polloi.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “carnival” mean?

Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.

Is “carnival” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.