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

The former beauty pageant winner confirmed her relationship with Keith in September 2024. —Mckinley Franklin, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

As weeks went by without any arrests in the case, a media frenzy began to build, fueled by relentless tabloid images of JonBenet participating in beauty pageants. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024

Related article Meet the 80-year-old Miss Universe Korea contestant proving age is just a number The beauty pageant world has been forced to modernize in recent years, as the values the shows traditionally embraced do not chime with younger generations. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 children’s novel about a family of unruly poor kids who take over the local Christmas pageant, the Lionsgate film has topped $25 million in just three weeks. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024

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