Quoting Commentary for I Samuel 9:12

וַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָה אוֹתָ֛ם וַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָה יֵּ֖שׁ הִנֵּ֣ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַהֵ֣ר ׀ עַתָּ֗ה כִּ֤י הַיּוֹם֙ בָּ֣א לָעִ֔יר כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיּ֛וֹם לָעָ֖ם בַּבָּמָֽה׃

And they answered them, and said: ‘He is; behold, he is before thee; make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.

HaKtav VeHaKabalah

A peace-offering (זבח). A peace-offering is called a זבח (feast), on the other hand, a burntoffering, a sin-offering, or a guilt-offering are never associated with the word זבח. This is because the owner eats the peace-offerings meat in the company of his family, friends, and acquaintances, and he praises God and thanks Him for His Kindness. Additionally, more people are needed so that the meat will not become left-over. Therefore it is called a זבח שלמים, because זבח connotes a festive meal. The other offerings, however, which are not eaten by the owners, are not called זבח.
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