pageant

noun

pag·​eant ˈpa-jənt 

1

a

: a mere show : pretense

b

: an ostentatious display

2

: show, exhibition

especially : an elaborate colorful exhibition or spectacle often with music that consists of a series of tableaux, of a loosely unified drama, or of a procession usually with floats

3

: pageantry sense 1

Synonyms

• cavalcade

Examples of pageant in a Sentence

They disagreed with the pageant judges.

Their church puts on an annual Christmas pageant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Spring's pink pageant is unfolding at the University of Washington, where the Quad's iconic Yoshino cherry trees are nearing peak bloom, an annual tradition that draws thousands of visitors to campus. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025

But by his own admission, the scribe behind 25 Academy Award ceremonies and more than his fair share of Miss Universe and USA pageants has also penned some real flops. —Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025

After Sienna, 26, dodged Shep’s calls and bailed early on dinner earlier in the trip, his friends thought the Average Expectations: Lessons in Lowering the Bar author should end things with the former pageant queen. —Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025

An 18-year-old beauty pageant queen who overcame childhood struggles including homelessness and an abusive mother was killed in a car crash with a tractor-trailer in Florida. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pagyn, padgeant, literally, scene of a play, from Anglo-French pagine, pagent, from Medieval Latin pagina, perhaps from Latin, page

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

pageant

noun

pag·​eant ˈpaj-ənt 

1

: an impressive exhibition or spectacle

2

: an entertainment consisting of scenes based on history or legend