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 of pageant

• parade
• presentation
• panorama

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

And is a beauty pageant really a healthy way for teenage girls to judge themselves anyway? — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

The pageant queen, who was previously crowned Miss Nevada USA and most recently represented America at the Miss World competition in Vietnam, has been raising awareness of the disease on pageant stages across the United States and the world. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Because JonBenét had won several child beauty pageants, images of her in makeup and garish costumes created a spectacle around the case (which is still unsolved), and around the Ramseys. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

The competition is separate from the Miss America pageant, which traces its history to a 1921 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

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