pomp

noun

ˈpämp 

1

: a show of magnificence : splendor

Every day begins … in a pomp of flaming colours …

—F. D. Ommanney

2

: a ceremonial or festival display (such as a train of followers or a pageant)

a dignitary treated with pomp and circumstance [=impressive formal activities or ceremonies]

3

a

: ostentatious display : vainglory

b

: an ostentatious gesture or act

Examples of pomp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But beneath the pomp, what’s really at stake is Riyadh’s role in the new regional security architecture taking shape across the Middle East. —semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025

England have been blessed with them down the years and even tried to shoehorn three into the same side during the 2000s when Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes were in their pomp. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025

All the crazy pomp, colorful costumes, the drill teams and marching bands flowed down the street. —Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Why bother funneling all of that through Hollywood’s pomp and corniness into a movie that’s only half good? —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pompe, from Latin pompa procession, pomp, from Greek pompē act of sending, escort, procession, pomp, from pempein to send

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pomp

• comp
• pompe
• romp
• stomp
• swamp

Kids Definition

pomp

noun

ˈpämp 

1

: a show of magnificence : splendor

the pomp of a royal ceremony

2

: showy display