pageant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a public show or parade where people wear traditional or historical clothes to celebrate an event.
an elaborate public spectacle or procession, typically involving participants in historical or traditional costume.
Simple“The town held a colourful pageant to celebrate its five-hundredth anniversary.”
In context“The historical pageant featured hundreds of local volunteers dressed in medieval attire, recreating the arrival of the royal court in the village square.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a competition where people are judged on their appearance and personality.
a beauty contest or competition, often involving judged categories for appearance, talent, and public speaking.
Simple“She won her first beauty pageant when she was only eighteen years old.”
In context“Critics of the annual pageant argue that such competitions focus too heavily on physical appearance rather than intellectual achievement.”
Synonymsbeauty contestcompetition - 03 C2 Proficiency
a moving stage on wheels used for plays in the past.
a movable stage or wheeled platform used for the performance of mystery plays in the medieval period.
Simple“In the Middle Ages, actors performed on a pageant that moved through the streets.”
In context“The guild was responsible for maintaining the pageant, ensuring the wheeled structure was sturdy enough to support the heavy scenery during the festival.”
UsageUsually refers specifically to the 'pageant wagon' used in medieval English drama.
Late 14th c. as Middle English pagent, from Medieval Latin pagina (“play in a cycle of mystery plays”), perhaps from Latin pāgina (“page of a book”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.