pageant

noun

pag·eant | \ ˈpa-jənt

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

Then: At the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., demonstrating feminists burn their bras as a symbol of liberation. — San Francisco Chronicle, "1968 was year of turmoil, much like now," 11 Jan. 2018 Temple Taggart told The New York Times that Trump kissed her without her consent at the 1997 Miss USA pageant and a subsequent meeting in Manhattan. — refinery29.com, "Trump, Who's Been Accused Of Sexual Misconduct By 19 Women, Mocks Rape Survivors At Rally," 6 July 2018 Also placing at the pageant was Miss Tolland County Gina Salvatore, of Wethersfield, who was third runner-up and earned the overall interview award. — Steve Smith, Courant Community, "Hebron's Oei Wins Miss Connecticut Crown," 19 June 2018 History was made at Monday night’s Miss USA pageant as Sarah Rose Summers took home the title. — Nardine Saad, latimes.com, "Nebraska joins Miss USA winner's circle as Sarah Rose Summers takes home the title," 22 May 2018 Sarah Rose Summers was crowned at the annual pageant Monday night, beating out 50 other beauty queens. — Michele Corriston, PEOPLE.com, "Miss USA 2018 Is ... Miss Nebraska Sarah Rose Summers!," 21 May 2018 At the pageant, children sat cross-legged in the dirt, crowded close to the spindly stage where the contestants spun and danced in red feather headdresses, gold brocade and clouds of tulle. — Aurora Almendral, New York Times, "A Transgender Paradox, and Platform, in the Philippines," 29 Apr. 2018 Always in the doghouse at America's most prestigious pooch pageant, no retriever has ever won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club, a competition that began in 1877. — Ben Walker, chicagotribune.com, "Chesapeake Bay retrievers in the spotlight thanks to UMBC March Madness run," 19 Mar. 2018 Her victory Sunday night resurrected a string of successes the Empire State has had in the pageant in recent years. — Fox News, "New Miss America is glad she didn't have to wear swimsuit to win," 10 Sep. 2018

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.