pageantry

noun

pag·​eant·​ry ˈpa-jən-trē 

1

: pageants and the presentation of pageants

2

: colorful, rich, or splendid display : spectacle

3

: mere show : empty display

Examples of pageantry in a Sentence

I like the tradition and pageantry that come with graduations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Indigenous communities across Michigan will come together for powwows this spring and summer, attracting thousands of people who will participate and many more who hope to witness the traditions and pageantry of the events. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026

But beneath the pageantry, something unusual was unfolding. —Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026

But the pageantry’s momentum now seemed to be driving, very fast, to the past. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

The cheers were muted as the State of the Union pageantry kicked off. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pageantry

noun

pag·​eant·​ry ˈpaj-ən-trē 

plural pageantries

1

: pageants and the presentation of pageants

2

: splendid display