What does extravaganza mean?
Word: Extravaganza
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Extravaganza means a big, showy and costly entertainment, such as a grand concert or stage show.
How do you spell extravaganza?
Syllables: ex - trav - a - gan - za
Tricky part: The z near the end is a surprise, since many students expect ce or an s there.
Watch out for: extravagansa, extravaganca
Memory tip: Think of a bonanza of fun: borrow its z for this word too.
Extravaganza in a sentence
Example 1: The city's New Year extravaganza featured folk dancers from six states.
Example 2: Our Class 8 play grew from a small skit into a full extravaganza.
Example 3: The film is a costume extravaganza with more than a thousand extras.
Fun Fact
It comes from Italian and in the 1700s first meant wild, over-the-top language or behaviour. The sense of a dazzling show came later.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Thousands of visitors filled the Guwahati stadium for the three-day extrevaganza of music, dance and fireworks that closed the youth festival.
a) visitors
b) extrevaganza
c) fireworks
d) stadium
Show answer
b) extrevaganza. The word starts with the same extra you see in extraordinary.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The sports day aatvngexzara ended with a drone display over the school ground.
a) extravagant
b) extraordinary
c) extraterrestrial
d) extravaganza
Show answer
d) extravaganza. Extravagant has no z, and neither do extraordinary and extraterrestrial.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word extravaganza as used in the sentence:
The annual science extravaganza at Bal Bhavan drew crowds from every school in the city.
a) rehearsal
b) spectacle
c) lecture
d) interval
Show answer
b) spectacle. A spectacle is a grand event that people come to see.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. carnival 2. extravaganza 3. pageant 4. fanfair
a) a short, loud tune played on trumpets
b) a public show of scenes from history
c) a public festival with music and processions
d) a lavish show put on to dazzle a crowd
Show answer
a) a short, loud tune played on trumpets. Fanfare has nothing to do with a fair: it ends in are.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What would you expect to see at an extravaganza?
a) a single speaker reading a short report
b) two friends sharing a quiet lunch at home
c) elaborate costumes, lights and large crowds
d) a small group studying in complete silence
Show answer
c) elaborate costumes, lights and large crowds
2. Why might a small school choose not to hold an extravaganza?
a) the classrooms are already quite tidy
b) the pupils have finished their homework
c) the cost and effort would be too great
d) the library has too few new books
Show answer
c) the cost and effort would be too great
