pageantry

noun

pag·​eant·​ry ˈpa-jən-trē How to pronounce pageantry (audio)
Synonyms of pageantrynext
1
: pageants and the presentation of pageants
2
: colorful, rich, or splendid display : spectacle
3
: mere show : empty display

Examples of pageantry in a Sentence

I like the tradition and pageantry that come with graduations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From sunrise until the race ended, the pageantry, the competition, the closeness, never seen before. Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 Without it, the films in the main competition and various sidebars of the fest are left alone to hold up the pageantry and scrutiny the annual event demands. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026 Ten years in, the quality and pageantry remain high, signaled by the spectacle of the roasted Peking ducks hanging in the entryway. Mariette Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2026 The luncheon is just one part of the extended pageantry that encapsulates the race. Luke Smith, New York Times, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pageantry

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pageantry was in 1609

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pageantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pageantry. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

pageantry

noun
pag·​eant·​ry ˈpaj-ən-trē How to pronounce pageantry (audio)
plural pageantries
1
: pageants and the presentation of pageants
2
: splendid display

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