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 human circus will perform Thursdays through Sundays, from July 11 to 21, at Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena, the same venue the show played back in 2019 (when it was still called BB&T Center). —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2024

The next day, Geordie and Will returned to the circus because Errol was found dead with an arrow in this chest. —Mandi Bierly, TVLine, 16 June 2024

The circus was definitely present outside Samuel’s elementary school Wednesday. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 14 June 2024

In addition to working horses, the authors focus on the cattle and pigs being slaughtered in the Chicago stockyards, the elephants touring the country with P.T. Barnum’s circus, and the city dogs swept up daily by dogcatchers and taken to the pound. —Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2024

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

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"