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
When actor Gérard Depardieu accepted Russian citizenship after a public spat with French authorities, in 2013, Bardot threatened to follow suit if France euthanized two sick circus elephants.
—
Ingrid Melander, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
In the film, a group of circus performers are invited to the jungles of Southeast Asia for a gig.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
Most South Florida towns were founded by people from faraway places, but few of those pioneers were as exotic as the circus performers who helped found the town of Sweetwater.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
There, Keller spoke about how the show not only tells the story of a man joining the circus, but how the show also makes the audience feel part of the process.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
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Ingrid Melander, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
In the film, a group of circus performers are invited to the jungles of Southeast Asia for a gig.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
Most South Florida towns were founded by people from faraway places, but few of those pioneers were as exotic as the circus performers who helped found the town of Sweetwater.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
There, Keller spoke about how the show not only tells the story of a man joining the circus, but how the show also makes the audience feel part of the process.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circus. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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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