pageant

American  

[paj-uhnt] / ˈpædʒ ənt /

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.

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pageant British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• pageanteer
  noun
• pageantic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pageant

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

Explanation

A pageant is an elaborate show or parade that usually depicts a historical or religious event, although these days more people know them as Miss America-type beauty contests. Pageants aren't just for beauty queens — any richly decorated spectacle or ceremony could be considered a pageant. Around Christmas time, many Christian churches put on pageants that reenact the birth of Jesus. The Carnival parades in Brazil represent another type of pageant. And if your school organized a show where students had to act out famous moments in history? That would be a pageant, too.

Example Sentences

For the past 10 years Thilothama has returned to Koovagam, where a beauty pageant and singing contests are held alongside religious rituals.

From Barron's • May 3, 2026

But this year, as Ukraine conducts a relentless campaign of drone strikes against targets deep inside Russia, the usual May 9 military pageant will look very different.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

It messed with our glamorous aviation industry; once, it skewed the odds at a beauty pageant because the planes flying contestants in from around Southern California to the Glendale airport couldn’t land in the smog.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The inclusion of these figures also underscores a clear choice they made for the Opening Ceremonies: this was not going to be a generic sporting pageant but a showcase of Italian arts.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

“Hmmm. So you mean if I want a shot at winning the pageant, all I gotta do is rat you out to your dad?”

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

Related Words

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