spectacle

noun spec·ta·cle \ ˈspek-ti-kəl also -ˌti-kəl \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Definition of spectacle

1 a : something exhibited to view as unusual, notable, or entertaining; especially : an eye-catching or dramatic public display

b : an object of curiosity or contempt

made a spectacle of herself

2 spectacles plural : glasses

3 : something (such as natural markings on an animal) suggesting a pair of glasses

See spectacle defined for English-language learners

See spectacle defined for kids

Examples of spectacle in a Sentence

He peered through his spectacles.
the multimedia spectacles that have become established parts of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games

Recent Examples of spectacle from the Web

The spectacle of children being arrested sends a stronger message than any amount of police violence against adults could do.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Another Glimpse of State Terror in Trump’s America," 8 June 2018
Thus the North Korean dictator’s brotherly hugs and clasped hands with South Korea’s current president, Moon Jae-in, were almost as unimaginable here as the unlikely spectacle of the Trump-Kim summit scheduled for Tuesday in Singapore.

— matt stiles, latimes.com, "South Korea's president was matchmaker for the nuclear summit — but could take the blame if it fails," 7 June 2018
In the span of two short years, The Real World went from a sanitized, but largely sincere documentary of young adulthood in the ’90s, into a grotesque spectacle of young-adult pain.

— rebecca schuman, Longreads, "When ‘The Real World’ Gave Up on Reality," 6 June 2018
Certainly those in Miller Park that night will never forget the spectacle of Stanton falling as if he were shot, blood pouring from his mouth and soaking the dirt of the right-handed batter’s box.

— craig davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Latest drama between Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Fiers shows feelings about 2014 beaning still linger," 5 June 2018
She was frozen in the same spot where the pit ropes had snapped, not because of fear, but because she was entranced at the spectacle of it all.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award runner-up: "Am I Not Your Animal" by Matt Jones," 2 June 2018
That said, the spectacle has received scrutiny in recent years, including a Change.org petition that garnered more than 34,000 signatures.

— sarah bowman, Indianapolis Star, "A woman says she found Indy 500 balloons. In Ohio.," 1 June 2018
The spectacle will focus on the campaign to pardon of Alice Marie Johnson, a nonviolent drug offender who’s currently serving life without parole in prison.

— german lopez, Vox, "The Trump–Kim Kardashian meeting, explained," 30 May 2018
Volcano scientists are also captivated, like much of the general public, by the sheer spectacle of the eruption: visions of red-hot lava fountaining out of cracks in the Earth and towering columns of ash shooting five miles into the sky.

— author: scott wilson, sarah kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "As Kilauea erupts, volcanologists swarm: ‘I expect great science from this event’," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spectacle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of spectacle

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin spectaculum, from spectare to watch, frequentative of specere to look, look at — more at spy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

spectacle Synonyms

Synonyms

eyeglasses, glass, specs;

Related Words

bifocals, half-glasses, trifocals;

sunglasses;

goggles;

contact lens;

SPECTACLE Defined for English Language Learners

spectacle

noun

Definition of spectacle for English Language Learners

: a very impressive show
: something that attracts attention because it is very unusual or very shocking
spectacles : a pair of lenses set into a frame and worn over the eyes

SPECTACLE Defined for Kids

spectacle

noun spec·ta·cle \ ˈspek-ti-kəl \

Definition of spectacle for Students

1 : an unusual or impressive public display (as a big parade)

2 spectacles plural : glass 3

3 : an object of curiosity or contempt

Don't make a spectacle of yourself!

Learn More about spectacle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spectacle Spanish Central: Translation of spectacle Nglish: Translation of spectacle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spectacle for Arabic speakers

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Definition of spectacle

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spectacle

Definition of spectacle for English Language Learners

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