pageant

pag·eant | \ ˈpa-jənt

How to pronounce pageant (audio)

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Definition of pageant

1a : 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

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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 Lee was also president of the Miss Central Navajo pageant between 2016 and 2018, Redhorse said. — Chelsea Curtis, The Arizona Republic, ""He was a warrior:" Community mourns of Navajo Nation police officer who died of COVID-19," 27 June 2020 This year’s Austin, Texas Miss Juneteenth pageant winner, Kennede Wallace, waved at the crowd in triumph, draped in an ivory fur cape with sateen lining. — Jenny Singer, Glamour, "Miss Juneteenth Is Your New Fave Pageant Movie, Mother-Daughter Drama, and Celebration of Black Women All in One," 19 June 2020 Rather than being swallowed whole by her disappointment, Turquoise channels all of her energy into preparing her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), for her own run in the local Miss Juneteenth pageant. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, "Miss Juneteenth Is The Timely Narrative We Need Right Now," 19 June 2020 The women who staff the pageant are bitchy to Turquoise, as if getting pregnant stripped her of all her value. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "In Miss Juneteenth, a Mother’s Dream Deferred," 19 June 2020 Now, her own teenage daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) has a chance to compete in the pageant, and Turquoise must confront where their lives are now. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, "Indie Focus: Celebrate with ‘Miss Juneteenth’," 19 June 2020 Every June 19 in Fort Worth, Lee is the Grand Dame of an annual city-wide celebration that includes a beauty pageant, conversations, and a caravan through the city. — Rachel Jones, National Geographic, "Why Juneteenth is a celebration of hope," 17 June 2020 Chauvin’s wife, Kellie, a Laotian immigrant who became the first Hmong winner of the Mrs. Minnesota pageant, filed for divorce shortly after his arrest last week. — Bernard Condon, Todd Richmond And Michael R. Sisak, Houston Chronicle, "Cop in Floyd case got medals for valor and drew complaints," 3 June 2020 Since its inception, the holiday has grown to include food, music, art, storytelling and literal pageantry — a Little Miss Juneteenth day pageant for young girls between the ages of seven and 13 was added 27 years ago. — Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee's Juneteenth Day during a pandemic? Community organizers have it covered with messages of unity and action," 16 June 2020

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

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Last Updated

2 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Pageant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pageant. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for pageant

pageant

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pageant

: a play or performance made of scenes from a historical event or a legend

See the full definition for pageant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pageant

pag·eant | \ ˈpa-jənt

\

Kids Definition of pageant

1 : a grand and fancy public ceremony and display

2 : an entertainment made up of scenes based on history or legend a Christmas pageant

3 : a contest in which a group of women or girls are judged a beauty pageant

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