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

Hilarious and heartfelt misadventure is afoot when a dysfunctional family piles into VW bus for a cross-country trip to get their youngest member (Abigail Breslin) into a beauty pageant. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

While Earle, 25, repped her alma mater's team colors in a green jersey, the former pageant contestant sported outwear in her signature snakeskin print. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026

The pageant uses two casts of 150 people who rotate each week. —Anita Gosch, Oc Register, 19 Jan. 2026

Their work included filming weddings, dance performances, theatrical productions and local pageants at venues throughout San Diego County. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

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