celebratory dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"celebratory dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a dinner that is thrown in celebration of an event or accomplishment. Example sentence: My family threw a celebratory dinner to celebrate my graduation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They enjoyed a celebratory dinner.

The New York Times

They'd reconvene in the evening for a celebratory dinner.

Stanford University

THE women are gathered for a celebratory dinner.

The New York Times

The celebratory dinner was at the Cheesecake Factory.

The New York Times

Before the celebratory dinner, some of us took a walk.

The New York Times - Magazine

(It's hard to imagine their descendants gathering for a celebratory dinner at a steakhouse).

The New Yorker

So after a celebratory dinner, it was time to say our goodbyes.

The New York Times

Sweeney and his family packed boxes before a celebratory dinner at Metropolitan Grill in Seattle.

The New York Times - Sports

Clearly optimistic that they have finally found willing replacement, a celebratory dinner has already been planned.

Independent

That night, back home, we had a celebratory dinner, butter and cheese be damned.

The New York Times

There will be a celebratory dinner on Friday evening, July 6th.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "celebratory dinner" to clearly convey that the meal is intended to commemorate or celebrate a specific event or achievement. Ensure the context supports this intention.

Common error

Avoid using "celebratory dinner" when the dinner is not genuinely intended to celebrate something. Using it casually for a regular meal can sound odd or insincere.

Linguistic Context

Celebratory dinner functions as a noun phrase, where "celebratory" modifies "dinner". It describes a specific type of meal that is intended to commemorate an occasion. Ludwig AI confirms its common and correct usage, evident in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

22%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "celebratory dinner" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a dinner arranged to commemorate a special event or achievement. Ludwig AI confirms this. The phrase is prevalent in news and media, as well as academic contexts, and is generally neutral in tone. Alternatives include "festive dinner" and "gala dinner". When using this phrase, ensure that the dinner is genuinely intended to celebrate something, and avoid casual misuse. The high frequency and authoritative sources reinforce its validity and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

celebration dinner

Omits the adjective "-ory", resulting in a slightly less formal tone.

festive dinner

Replaces "celebratory" with "festive", emphasizing the joyful and cheerful nature of the dinner.

gala dinner

Substitutes "celebratory" with "gala", suggesting a more formal and elaborate dinner event.

commemorative dinner

Emphasizes the memorial aspect of the dinner, highlighting the remembrance of a specific event.

victory dinner

Specifies that the dinner is celebrating a victory or triumph.

triumphal dinner

Similar to "victory dinner", but with a stronger emphasis on the grandeur and significance of the achievement.

awards dinner

Indicates that the dinner is part of an award ceremony or recognition event.

special occasion dinner

A more general term that refers to a dinner held for any special event or milestone.

post-event dinner

Denotes a dinner occurring immediately after a significant event, serving as a culmination of the day's proceedings.

recognition dinner

Highlights the purpose of the dinner as a means of acknowledging and appreciating accomplishments or contributions.

FAQs

How can I use "celebratory dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "celebratory dinner" to describe a meal arranged to celebrate a special occasion. For example: "After winning the championship, the team enjoyed a celebratory dinner." or "The company hosted a celebratory dinner to honor its employees' achievements".

What are some alternatives to "celebratory dinner"?

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

Is "celebratory dinner" formal or informal?

"Celebratory dinner" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for both professional and personal contexts. Its formality depends on the overall tone of the communication and the nature of the event being celebrated.

What is the difference between "celebratory dinner" and /s/celebration+dinner"?

While both phrases are similar, "celebratory dinner" is more common and idiomatic. "Celebration dinner" is grammatically correct but sounds slightly less natural and is less frequently used.