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

The pageant denied his claims, posting a public statement on Instagram. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

Bosch found herself at the heart of a controversy during the lead-up to the worldwide pageant. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Nov. 2025

Thailand, this year’s host country, has a vibrant and lucrative pageant industry with one of the largest fanbases in Asia, alongside the Philippines. —Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

Bosch received the crown from 2024 winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark during the event, where 120 women from around the world took to the stage to compete for the pageant's 74th crown. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025

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