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.

Kelley is the first mother and first married woman to take home the title in the pageant’s 75-year history. — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026 The 18-year-old native from Coffee County, Georgia, became the state's first winner in the national teen pageant and won the cash prize of $25,000. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Judges for this year’s Miss Teen pageant include Kelsey Swanson, who is a current member of the cast of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, and joins the judging panel this year. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Fernández said the Miss USA pageant has aimed to move more toward avant-garde fashion. — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 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 1 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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