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

In 1984, Williams became the first Black woman to win the Miss America pageant. —Danny Horn, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025

But Greenwood’s affiliation with Trump stems from an association with Greenwood's wife, Kimberly, who was the executive director of the Miss Tennessee USA pageant in the 1990s, when Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organization. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025

JonBenét's role as a beauty pageant contestant has led to speculation that her murderer may have attended her shows. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

In 2007, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for producing the Miss Universe pageants after buying the organization in 1996. —Fox News, 23 Dec. 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