pageant

noun

pag·eant ˈpa-jənt

Synonyms of pageant

: a mere show : pretense

: an ostentatious display

: 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

: pageantry sense 1

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

As the pageant draws near, the girls’ rivalries reveal deep questions about colorism, beauty, and the strange, punishing standards by which young women learn to measure themselves. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 In the 2000 comedy movie, Bullock’s Gracie Hart/Gracie Lou Freebush is named runner-up in the Miss United States pageant, and her close friend and Miss Rhode Island Cheryl (Heather Burns) is crowned the winner. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 The franchise grew out of Wong, Shih and Yin’s own experiences competing in and observing Asian beauty pageants and talent contests held across North America and Asia. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Miss World is one of the longest-running international pageants, with events such as the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ segment, the ‘Head-to-Head’ live debate and ‘Top Model’ runway section. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pageant

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of pageant was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

Page

pageant

pageanteer

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Pageant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pageant. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pageant

noun

pag·eant ˈpaj-ənt

: an impressive exhibition or spectacle

: an entertainment consisting of scenes based on history or legend

pageant

noun

Synonyms of pageant

Examples of pageant in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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