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

• cavalcade

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

At the time, Johnson was a pageant competitor and model, who would go on to become Miss California USA in 2010, and even place in the top 10 of the Miss USA finals that same year. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023

This year's Miss Universe pageant will feature two trans women for the first time: Miss Portugal Marina Machete and Miss Netherlands Rikkie Kollé. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023

Like in the finance industry, there’s only a handful of Black faces in the pageant world. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 22 Sep. 2023

The island-wide celebration include concerts, parades, cultural activities, and pageants, while numerous fairs celebrate the best in local art and culture. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023

Shugart shared the news of her departure while on stage at Thursday night’s National Costume Show portion of the Miss Universe pageant. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

While the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 steals the limelight in the early 911 pageant, its immediate successor is a car to be coveted as well. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2023

The book recounts her rise from pageant queen in the Philippines to a laudable career in fashion and advocacy in the United States. —Raquel Willis, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2023

Friedman says the South in particular is still the land of pageants. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023

See More

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