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

The pageant featured contestants dressed in elaborate costumes tied back to the city's humble yet iconic bird. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 18 June 2025

On the side, the former beauty pageant queen creates handmade jewelry via her company, House of Mitti. #35. —Steven Bertoni, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

In the movie, a former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025

The event was also a family affair as two queens from the pageant, Little Miss Juneteenth Brielle Salifu and Junior Miss Juneteenth Nyelle Salifu of Apple Valley, are sisters. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 13 June 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