circus

play

noun, often attributive cir·cus \ ˈsər-kəs \

Definition of circus

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

play \-kə-sē\ adjective

See circus defined for English-language learners

See circus defined for kids

Examples of circus in a Sentence

He worked for a small circus.
We're going to the circus.

Recent Examples of circus from the Web

At every planetfall, the crew members, a little older and a little grayer each time, reconvened at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., for a weeklong marathon of discovery, a circus of science on the fly.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "A Reverie for the Voyager Probes, Humanity’s Calling Cards," 21 Aug. 2017
The verdict came on the fifth day of deliberations after a monthlong trial that sometimes resembled a circus.

— chris dolmetsch, Bloomberg.com, "Shkreli Decries ‘Witch Hunt’ After Convicted of Securities Fraud," 4 Aug. 2017
The circus atmosphere off the court somewhat overshadows what Ball has done on the court.

— kareem copeland, The Seattle Times, "No passing fancy: Lonzo Ball looks like ideal fit for Lakers," 17 July 2017
Test out your circus skills on trampolines and tumbling mats after class.

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
Nery’s circus has attracted everyone from Emma Thompson to Steve-O (who’s been known to hop onstage).

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
The circus holds a fascinating chapter in America's evolving history.

— joan dittmann, Post-Tribune, "Circus festival spotlights Peru's heritage," 12 July 2017
But even before that, the circus had a home in Peru.

— joan dittmann, Post-Tribune, "Circus festival spotlights Peru's heritage," 12 July 2017
An early signing period could ease the circus atmosphere that some coaches loathe.

— adam sparks, The Courier-Journal, "SEC Media Days: Expect crazy fans, outspoken coaches, football talk," 9 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of circus

Middle English, from Latin, circle, circus — more at circle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

circus Synonyms

Synonyms

bowl, stadium, coliseum, colosseum

Related Words

ballpark, park; gym, gymnasium, spa; arena, dome, hippodrome

Near Antonyms

arcadia, heaven, paradise, utopia; order, orderliness, organization; calm, lull, peace, respite; hush, quiet, silence, stillness

CIRCUS Defined for English Language Learners

circus

play

noun

Definition of circus for English Language Learners

: a traveling show that is often performed in a tent and that typically includes trained animals, clowns, acrobats, etc.
: a situation or event that is very busy, lively, and confusing and that attracts a lot of attention
: a circular area where several streets meet