# pageant

/ˈpædʒənt/ (US) · /pˈædʒənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pageant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. historical show or parade

noun · CEFR B2

a public show or parade where people wear traditional or historical clothes to celebrate an event.

For teachers: an elaborate public spectacle or procession, typically involving participants in historical or traditional costume.

- The town held a colourful pageant to celebrate its five-hundredth anniversary.
- The historical pageant featured hundreds of local volunteers dressed in medieval attire, recreating the arrival of the royal court in the village square.

### 2. beauty competition

noun · CEFR B2

a competition where people are judged on their appearance and personality.

For teachers: a beauty contest or competition, often involving judged categories for appearance, talent, and public speaking.

- She won her first beauty pageant when she was only eighteen years old.
- Critics of the annual pageant argue that such competitions focus too heavily on physical appearance rather than intellectual achievement.

### 3. theatrical platform

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a moving stage on wheels used for plays in the past.

For teachers: a movable stage or wheeled platform used for the performance of mystery plays in the medieval period.

- In the Middle Ages, actors performed on a pageant that moved through the streets.
- The guild was responsible for maintaining the pageant, ensuring the wheeled structure was sturdy enough to support the heavy scenery during the festival.

Usage: Usually refers specifically to the 'pageant wagon' used in medieval English drama.

## Examples

- She won first prize in the local beauty pageant.
- The town organized a historical pageant to celebrate the three-hundredth anniversary of its founding.
- While some critics view the modern beauty pageant as an outdated spectacle, others argue it provides a platform for young women to earn scholarships and develop public speaking skills.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.