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
For God’s sake, its theme song conjures a clowns’ circus suite — whoopee-cushion tuba, banana-peel woodwinds.
—
Wesley Morris Ron Butler Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The free outdoor offerings include music, theater, circus, dance, poetry and children’s programs.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Health resource fair at 12:30 p.m., Mariachi Victoria de San Diego show at 1:15 p.m. 2 p.m. circus start time on Saturday.
—The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Kids will love learning about popular circus attractions and adults will enjoy strolling the estate gardens.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
As a trio of savvy circus vets, Sara Gettelfinger, Stan Brown and Joe DePaul offer a welcome dose of levity to the at times interminable proceedings.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
In the Pink Legend has it that pink lemonade—a popular variation often containing strawberry or raspberry juice—originated at U.S. circuses.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Easter Fun Fest This free event hosted by the Detroit Parks & Recreation Department will have carnival rides, a big top circus, a high velocity slide, face painting, DJs, community resources, a health fair, inflatables, giveaways, food trucks and more.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Sir Lion joined the Masked Singer circus and performed the theme to Married…With Children.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
Wesley Morris Ron Butler Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The free outdoor offerings include music, theater, circus, dance, poetry and children’s programs.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Health resource fair at 12:30 p.m., Mariachi Victoria de San Diego show at 1:15 p.m. 2 p.m. circus start time on Saturday.
—The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Kids will love learning about popular circus attractions and adults will enjoy strolling the estate gardens.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
As a trio of savvy circus vets, Sara Gettelfinger, Stan Brown and Joe DePaul offer a welcome dose of levity to the at times interminable proceedings.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
In the Pink Legend has it that pink lemonade—a popular variation often containing strawberry or raspberry juice—originated at U.S. circuses.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Easter Fun Fest This free event hosted by the Detroit Parks & Recreation Department will have carnival rides, a big top circus, a high velocity slide, face painting, DJs, community resources, a health fair, inflatables, giveaways, food trucks and more.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Sir Lion joined the Masked Singer circus and performed the theme to Married…With Children.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 27 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 18 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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