carnivalEnglishOxford American Thesauruscarnival noun 1 the town's raucous carnival: festival, fiesta, fete, gala, jamboree, holiday, celebration, party; parade, procession, march, tattoo. 2 North American he worked at a carnival, climbing Ferris wheels and working 18-hour days: funfair, circus, fair, amusement show, sideshows.