celebratory

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "celebratory" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is related to a celebration or festivities. For example, "The restaurateur prepared a celebratory feast for the special occasion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it is also a hugely celebratory collective insanity, a world away from the portentousness and individualism of much current hip-hop and rock.

The Guardian - Music

A full half-century after its release, Lulu opened a celebratory evening with an exuberant version of her signature single Shout, while – in a twist that was nothing if not original – the thousands of athletes emerged from hundreds of tents on the Hampden Park pitch.

The Guardian - Sport

When the final whistle went 15 minutes later, they embraced, shouted and danced in celebratory circles.

The Guardian - Sport

Pioneering, inclusive and celebratory, the NVA redefines the video game arcade, and moves the medium closer to a cultural legitimacy that has, to date, proved elusive.

The Guardian - Travel

It was, undeniably, a ground-breaking image, the first time that a Serie A player has taken a celebratory selfie – and that lack of past precedent might also explain how he escaped a booking.

The Guardian - Sport

Her pieces varied in mood from lacerating and shocking to playful, comical and celebratory, but for most of her career she grappled with that brutally simple, tortuously difficult question: in the face of so much cruelty and suffering in the world, what are an artist's ethical and political responsibilities?

The Guardian - Arts

While Argentina rang with celebratory church bells at the news of the first Latin American pope, some were seized by doubt and confusion.

The Guardian

The most famous festival in the world proved it can still pack a punch at 40 as Glastonbury organisers tonight revealed that controversial rapper Snoop Dogg will be joining Dizzee Rascal, the Flaming Lips and Pet Shop Boys at this year's celebratory event.

The Guardian - Music

It was only to be expected that the Tory newspapers and tweeters would do a celebratory war dance as David Cameron's cabinet gathered for the first time and Ed Miliband (can this really be true?) slunk off with Justine for a break in Ibiza.

The Guardian

When we arrived, one member of the group stripped down to his bib shorts for celebratory photographs; another had to be talked out of getting a bee – for Beespoke Tours – tattooed on his bottom.

The Guardian - Travel

While it would be nice for Sunday to be a meaningless game with everyone all buttoned up and celebratory, that's not the New York way, especially in the run-up to the most important regular season game in franchise history.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "celebratory" to describe events, actions, or items that are directly related to or indicative of a celebration. For example, "a celebratory dinner" or "celebratory fireworks."

Common error

Avoid using "celebratory" as a verb. It functions as an adjective. Instead of saying "They celebratory the event", say "They celebrated the event" or "They held a celebratory event".

Linguistic Context

The word "celebratory" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they are related to or indicative of a celebration. Ludwig AI confirms its use in numerous contexts, as illustrated by various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "celebratory" is a grammatically sound and very common adjective used to describe elements related to celebrations. As Ludwig AI points out, it fits seamlessly into various contexts, primarily in news, formal business, and scientific writing. While alternatives like "festive" or "joyful" exist, "celebratory" provides a direct and clear connection to the act of celebration. Remember to avoid using it as a verb, sticking to its adjectival role for optimal clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

festive

Focuses more on the atmosphere or environment of a celebration.

commemorative

Emphasizes remembering a person or event, often with a ceremony.

joyful

Highlights the feeling of happiness and delight.

triumphant

Suggests a victory or achievement being celebrated.

exuberant

Conveys a sense of overflowing enthusiasm and excitement.

convivial

Focuses on the friendly and lively atmosphere of a gathering.

revelrous

Implies boisterous and unrestrained celebration.

jovial

Suggests a cheerful and good-humored atmosphere.

honoring

Highlights the act of showing respect and admiration.

memorializing

Focuses on preserving the memory of a person or event.

FAQs

How can I use "celebratory" in a sentence?

You can use "celebratory" to describe something related to a celebration, such as "a celebratory atmosphere" or "a celebratory toast".

What are some alternatives to the word "celebratory"?

You can use alternatives like "festive", "joyful", or "commemorative" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "celebratory" and "celebrated"?

"Celebratory" describes something related to a celebration, while "celebrated" describes someone or something that is famous and admired. For example, "a celebratory party" versus "a celebrated author".

Is it correct to use "celebratory" to describe a person?

While technically grammatically correct, it's more common to use other adjectives like "joyful" or "exuberant" to describe a person's demeanor or mood in a celebratory context. Using "celebratory" to describe a person might sound awkward.