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

Moody bested more than 30 other hometown girls in a pageant that judged them on interviews, public speaking, swimsuits and beauty. —Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

She was crowned Miss Oklahoma six years later and subsequently represented the state in the 1958 Miss America pageant, finishing third, per Edmond Live & Leisure. —Jack Irvin, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Bryant represented Oklahoma in the Miss America pageant in 1958, becoming second-runner-up. —Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025

In 2024, the pageant crowned an active-duty Air Force officer for the first time. —Allison Kiehl, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 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