circus

noun

cir·​cus ˈsər-kəs 

often attributive

1

a

: a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on three or all four sides and used especially for sports or spectacles (such as athletic contests, exhibitions of horsemanship, or in ancient times chariot racing)

b

: a public spectacle

2

a

: an arena often covered by a tent and used for variety shows usually including feats of physical skill, wild animal acts, and performances by clowns

b

: a circus performance

c

: the physical plant, livestock, and personnel of such a circus

d

: something suggestive of a circus (as in frenzied activity, sensationalism, theatricality, or razzle-dazzle)

a media circus

3

a

obsolete : circle, ring

b

British : a usually circular area at an intersection of streets

circusy

ˈsər-kə-sē 

adjective

Synonyms

• bowl
• coliseum
• colosseum
• stadium

Examples of circus in a Sentence

He worked for a small circus.

We're going to the circus.

Recent Examples on the Web

The white tiger exists only in captivity, in the care of zoos, circuses, rescues, sanctuaries and private residences. —Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025

But this Dumbo is as flimsy and devoid of emotion as a circus act, relying too heavily on the CGI elephant to generate any real flights of fantasy. —Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025

The titular elephant looks fantastic and is almost unbearably adorable, and the excellent production design brings the world of the circus to haunting life. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025

That's why bears trained to do so for brief periods find themselves in circus acts. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, circle, circus — more at circle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing circus

• circus catch
• circus peanut
• three-ring circus

Rhymes for circus

• quercus

Kids Definition

circus

noun

cir·​cus ˈsər-kəs 

1

: a large arena enclosed by rows of seats (as in ancient Rome)

2

a

: a show that usually travels from place to place and that has a variety of exhibitions including acrobatic feats, wild animal displays, and performances by clowns

b

: a circus performance

c

: the performers and equipment of such a circus

d

: something that suggests a circus

Etymology

from Latin circus "circle, arena"