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

The Greek Independence Day Parade is more than pageantry. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026

Krasnoff, for her part, is watching to see whether the pageantry of the World Cup eventually overwhelms the political noise. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026

The parade helped turn Macy's into a civic institution, blurring the lines between commerce and culture and attaching pageantry and spectacle to the corporate brand. —Randy Tucker, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Since 1949, this beloved event has brought together Texans for live music from major country stars and classic rodeo pageantry. —Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 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