ringmaster

noun

ring·​mas·​ter ˈriŋ-ˌma-stər How to pronounce ringmaster (audio)
: one in charge of performances in a ring (as of a circus)
broadly : a supervisor or moderator especially of a performance or presentation
the ringmaster of a talk show

Examples of ringmaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Or Andy Cohen playing ringmaster to a universe of pugnacious Real Housewives. TIME, 31 Jan. 2024 In addition to being the ringmaster of her own three-ring dessert circus, Goellner created the dessert menu for the Antler Room, owned by her brother Nick Goellner and sister-in-law Leslie Newsom Goellner. Jill Wendholt Silva, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024 Madeleine secures fame after standing trial for the murder of a lascivious movie producer, with Pauline serving as defense counsel and media circus ringmaster. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 The evening’s ringmaster, Sean Hannity, had pledged to be an evenhanded and impartial facilitator of the discussion. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Mario is equally about Nintendo’s penchant for a ringmaster’s showmanship: Each level reaches for an energizing loop of surprise and satisfaction, each moment seeking to be pleasurable and rewarding in its own way. Keep Mario Weird, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2023 McLaughlin also paid homage to 2012's Red with a red and gold circus ringmaster look inspired by the outfit Swift wore to the MTV Europe Music Awards that year. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023 The red-roomed supper club's pianist was joined by the band, where ringmasters, cotton candy vendors, caged plush tigers, models on stilt walkers, balloon-animal artists, and plate-spinning clowns reveled into the wee hours. Vogue, 28 Oct. 2023 But Trump faces at least two more hurdles from Facebook in his quest to reprise his role as political ringmaster in 2024. Joshua Green, Bloomberg.com, 1 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ringmaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ringmaster was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near ringmaster

Cite this Entry

“Ringmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ringmaster. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ringmaster

noun
ring·​mas·​ter ˈriŋ-ˌmas-tər How to pronounce ringmaster (audio)
: one in charge of performances in a ring (as of a circus)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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