often attributive
1
a
: a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on three or all four sides and used especially for sports or spectacles (such as athletic contests, exhibitions of horsemanship, or in ancient times chariot racing)
b
: a public spectacle
2
a
: an arena often covered by a tent and used for variety shows usually including feats of physical skill, wild animal acts, and performances by clowns
b
: a circus performance
c
: the physical plant, livestock, and personnel of such a circus
d
: something suggestive of a circus (as in frenzied activity, sensationalism, theatricality, or razzle-dazzle)
a media circus
Examples of circus in a Sentence
He worked for a small circus.
We're going to the circus.
Recent Examples on the Web
But Jones, who lives in London and has a generous smile, wasn’t accustomed to the circus of online dating: maneuvering fake profiles, encountering people who only want to swap photos and never meet.
—
Jason Parham, WIRED, 22 Apr. 2024
Just another stop on the endless BKFC traveling circus.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
Residents in Butte, Montana may be more used to seeing bison, but an escaped circus elephant was a surprise when she was captured on video walking through the town streets.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
My parents brought me to the circus and the star that year was Gene Autry.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
This year, after a long dormancy, a version of that old circus is back in town.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
The ensuing trial became a media circus and Simpson was found not guilty for the two murders.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
But Jay died in late 2022, ending a half-century career as the pushy cosmic evangelist, as responsible as anyone for the sensational circus of science, wonder and tourism that solar eclipses have become.
—Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
After all, the Benzini Brothers’ Depression-era traveling circus, where the show is set, is no tiptop big top.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Jason Parham, WIRED, 22 Apr. 2024
Just another stop on the endless BKFC traveling circus.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
Residents in Butte, Montana may be more used to seeing bison, but an escaped circus elephant was a surprise when she was captured on video walking through the town streets.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
My parents brought me to the circus and the star that year was Gene Autry.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
This year, after a long dormancy, a version of that old circus is back in town.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
The ensuing trial became a media circus and Simpson was found not guilty for the two murders.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
But Jay died in late 2022, ending a half-century career as the pushy cosmic evangelist, as responsible as anyone for the sensational circus of science, wonder and tourism that solar eclipses have become.
—Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
After all, the Benzini Brothers’ Depression-era traveling circus, where the show is set, is no tiptop big top.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near circus
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circus. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
circus
noun
cir·cus
ˈsər-kəs 
1
: a large arena enclosed by rows of seats (as in ancient Rome)
2
a
: a show that usually travels from place to place and that has a variety of exhibitions including acrobatic feats, wild animal displays, and performances by clowns
b
: a circus performance
c
: the performers and equipment of such a circus
d
: something that suggests a circus
Etymology
from Latin circus "circle, arena"
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