pageant

UK: /ˈpædʒənt/ US: /ˈpædʒənt/ ,(paj′ənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pag•eant /ˈpædʒənt/   n. [countable]

1. a parade in which the participants wear fancy, decorative costumes.
2. a show that portrays scenes about the history of a place, institution, etc.:
   a medieval pageant.
3. a show or exhibition:
   a beauty pageant.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pag•eant  (paj′ənt), n. 

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, esp. 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. Obs. a stage bearing any kind of spectacle.

• Anglo-Latin pāgina a stage for plays, scene, platform, perh. special use of Latin pāgina page¹
• 1350–1400; Middle English pagyn, pagaunt, pagand

pag′eant•eer′, n. 
pa•gean•tic  (pə jan′tik), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pageant / 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

Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin pāgina scene of a play, from Latin: page¹