What does banquet mean?
A banquet is a large, formal meal prepared for many guests, usually in honor of a special occasion such as a wedding, coronation, award ceremony, or diplomatic visit. The word conveys ceremony and abundance: a banquet is not simply dinner but an event, often featuring multiple elaborate courses, formal service by staff, speeches or toasts, and an elegant setting such as a ballroom or banquet hall. It functions chiefly as a noun, though it can also be used as a verb meaning to entertain lavishly, as in 'they were banqueted for a week.' Common collocations include state banquet, wedding banquet, and lavish banquet. The word traces back through French to a root connected with benches and seating, a reminder of its origins in communal dining. Because it signals hospitality, prestige, and celebration, 'banquet' is a useful word for describing grand occasions across historical, journalistic, and everyday writing.
A large formal meal for many people, often served to celebrate a special occasion.
"The university held an annual banquet for its graduating scholars."
To entertain someone lavishly with food and drink, or to take part in such a meal.
"The ambassadors were banqueted for three days upon their arrival."
Standard plural; commonly used when referring to multiple events or occasions, e.g., in event-planning or historical contexts.
"Medieval kings were famous for hosting extravagant banquets."
The word 'banquet' literally began life meaning a 'little bench' — the small side table of sweets and wines that followed a medieval feast — before growing into the name for the feast itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of banquet
English borrowed 'banquet' in the late Middle Ages from Old French, where it originally referred to the small bench-side course of sweetmeats and wine served after a main feast — the term deriving from 'banc,' meaning bench. Over time, English speakers applied the word to the grand feast itself, and by the early modern period it had settled into its modern sense of a large ceremonial meal. Its Germanic-rooted cousin survives in everyday words like 'bench,' which shares the same ancestral connection to seating furniture.
Related word forms
How banquet is actually used
'Banquet' carries a formal, celebratory register and implies scale and ceremony rather than everyday eating; it is standard in both British and American English.
Easily confused with banquet
A buffet is a meal where guests serve themselves from laid-out dishes, while a banquet is a formal seated meal served to guests.