pageant

[paj-uhnt]

noun

1. an elaborate public spectacle illustrative of the history of a place, institution, or the like, often given in dramatic form or as a procession of colorful floats.

2. a costumed procession, masque, allegorical tableau, or the like forming part of public or social festivities.

3. a show or exhibition, especially one consisting of a succession of participants or events.

   a beauty pageant.

4. something comparable to a procession in colorful variety, splendor, or grandeur.

   the pageant of Renaissance history.

5. a pretentious display or show that conceals a lack of real importance or meaning.

6. (in medieval times) a platform or stage, usually moving on wheels, on which scenes from mystery plays were presented.

7. display or pageantry.

8. Obsolete.,  a stage bearing any kind of spectacle.

pageant

/ ˈpædʒənt /

noun

1. an elaborate colourful parade or display portraying scenes from history, esp one involving rich costume

2. any magnificent or showy display, procession, etc

Other Word Forms

• pageanteer noun
• pageantic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pageant¹

1350–1400; Middle English pagyn, pagaunt, pagand < Anglo-Latin pāgina a stage for plays, scene, platform, perhaps special use of Latin pāgina page ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pageant¹

C14: from Medieval Latin pāgina scene of a play, from Latin: _page ¹

Example Sentences

It is open to all pies and all people because it’s not a contest or a pageant, but a communal celebration of stories.

From Salon

As she prepared for last year's Miss World pageant, she said: "I really put myself in the zone of service. I really channelled it for this big crown."

From BBC

This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish.

From Los Angeles Times

Since Bezos’ main competitor in the world’s richest man pageant is running around bragging about his plan to seed more wombs, these testimonials emphasize the nobility in the Blue Origin founder’s space flight sponsorship.

From Salon

Should the competition influence attitudes beyond the pageant world, it could have huge economic implications.

From BBC

Related Words

• celebration 
• extravaganza 
• fair 
• parade 
• procession 
• ritual 
• tableau