pageant
noun
pag·eant ˈpa-jənt 
1
a
: a mere show : pretense
b
: an ostentatious display
2
: 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
3
: pageantry sense 1
Synonyms
- cavalcade
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They disagreed with the pageant judges. Their church puts on an annual Christmas pageant.
Recent Examples on the Web There'll be plenty of beer and food from Kegel's Inn for sale, live music, daily stein-hoisting competitions, a wiener dog beauty pageant, a Usinger's brat-eating competition, and more. 
Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 Something more encompassing than style or structure or subject matter is stably on display: one of the most charming sensibilities in the long, panoramic pageant of English verse. Brad Leithauser, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Cincinnati events for June and July Kenton County Fair and Horse Show Enjoy 4-H horse and livestock shows, pageants including the Miss Kenton County pageant, track events and more at the weeklong Kenton County Fair. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 July 2022 People can’t wait to see what the folks who brought them a grandma beauty pageant, a stuff-the-porta-potty contest, a first-base coach leaping over a picnic table and chairs and toddler races will come up with next. Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2022 People can’t wait to see what the folks who brought them a grandma beauty pageant, a stuff-the-porta-potty contest, a first-base coach leaping over a picnic table and chairs and toddler races will come up with next. Kent Somers, USA TODAY, 3 July 2022 Around 10,000 people are involved in the pageant, including 2,750 military personnel, more than 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public. Janine Henni, PEOPLE.com, 5 June 2022 Highlights include a royal parade, battle pageant, jousting tournament and live music from Gallows Humor. Sara Butler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2022 During a season-kickoff talent pageant, in which other cast members flaunted their ballet and burlesque skills, said contestant, Maddy Morphosis, wailed a blues solo on an electric guitar. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Apr. 2022 See More
Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 Something more encompassing than style or structure or subject matter is stably on display: one of the most charming sensibilities in the long, panoramic pageant of English verse. Brad Leithauser, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Cincinnati events for June and July Kenton County Fair and Horse Show Enjoy 4-H horse and livestock shows, pageants including the Miss Kenton County pageant, track events and more at the weeklong Kenton County Fair. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 July 2022 People can’t wait to see what the folks who brought them a grandma beauty pageant, a stuff-the-porta-potty contest, a first-base coach leaping over a picnic table and chairs and toddler races will come up with next. Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2022 People can’t wait to see what the folks who brought them a grandma beauty pageant, a stuff-the-porta-potty contest, a first-base coach leaping over a picnic table and chairs and toddler races will come up with next. Kent Somers, USA TODAY, 3 July 2022 Around 10,000 people are involved in the pageant, including 2,750 military personnel, more than 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public. Janine Henni, PEOPLE.com, 5 June 2022 Highlights include a royal parade, battle pageant, jousting tournament and live music from Gallows Humor. Sara Butler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2022 During a season-kickoff talent pageant, in which other cast members flaunted their ballet and burlesque skills, said contestant, Maddy Morphosis, wailed a blues solo on an electric guitar. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Apr. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
pageant
noun
pag·eant ˈpa-jənt
1
: a grand and fancy public ceremony and display
2
: an entertainment made up of scenes based on history or legend
a Christmas pageant
3
: a contest in which a group of women or girls are judged
a beauty pageant
pageant
noun
1
as in parade
a staged presentation often with music that consists of a procession of narrated or enacted scenes we always put on a Christmas pageant every year Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- parade
- presentation
- panorama
- cavalcade
- show
- drama
- production
- procession
- spectacle
- exhibition
- performance
- dramatization
- demonstration
- tableau
- extravaganza
- montage
- kaleidoscope
- progress
- play
2
as in extravaganza
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event an annual summertime pageant depicting the town's founding and colorful early history Synonyms & Similar Words
- extravaganza
- exhibit
- spectacle
- exhibition
- spectacular
- display
- circus
- raree-show
- exposition