pomp

[ pomp ]

noun

1. stately or splendid display; splendor; magnificence.
2. ostentatious or vain display, especially of dignity or importance.
3. pomps, pompous displays, actions, or things:

   The official was accompanied by all the pomps of his high position.

4. Archaic. a stately or splendid procession; pageant.

pomp

/ pɒmp /

noun

1. stately or magnificent display; ceremonial splendour
2. vain display, esp of dignity or importance
3. obsolete.
   a procession or pageant

Other Words From

• pompless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pomp¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Latin pompa display, parade, procession < Greek pompḗ originally, a sending, akin to pémpein to send

Word History and Origins

Origin of pomp¹

C14: from Old French pompe, from Latin pompa procession, from Greek pompē; related to Greek pompein to send

Example Sentences

Today, Powell chose a simpler church service in lieu of the pomp and circumstance of lying in state in the Capitol that military leaders are granted, another instance of looking back at where he’d been, not where he’d reached.

From The Daily Beast

The marriage of the former princess Mako Komuro, niece of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, and her long-time partner, the commoner Kei Komuro, was without the usual pomp and ceremony of royal nuptials.

From Time

Finding a way to gather in May for the pomp and circumstance of graduation ceremonies proved yet another challenge.

From Washington Post

Still, that same equalizing effect also serves to highlight the relative absurdity of building up so much importance, so much pomp and hyperbole, over awards shows in the first place.

From Washington Blade

Typically, Mars landings are cause for great pomp and circumstance at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

From Washington Post

If a product is beautiful, why do you need all that pomp and circumstance?

From The Daily Beast

Instead, there was a high school band striking up the Elgar march “Pomp and Circumstance.”

From The Daily Beast

A glittering spectacle of British pomp and majesty it may be, but the clothes are rather tight, and the room is somewhat airless.

From The Daily Beast

Compared to where we had just been, what we had so recently done, all the pomp and circumstance seemed ingratiatingly trivial.

From The Daily Beast

We still seem driven by hype, by illusory health scares and benefits, by pomp, by the new and trendy, than by taste.

From The Daily Beast

They buried her body in the Recollect convent, with the greatest pomp possible.

From Project Gutenberg

The date was fixed for the interment with military pomp, and immense crowds came out to witness the imposing procession.

From Project Gutenberg

The Cardinals started for the north, 'as the manner of the Romans is,' with great pomp and circumstance.

From Project Gutenberg

If he has painted vice and shown Satan in all his pomp, it is without the least complacence in the task.

From Project Gutenberg

All this pomp and circumstance was in their eyes no other than a distinctive mark of paganism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fanfare
• formality
• grandeur
• solemnity
• splendor

When To Use

What are other ways to say pomp?

Pomp refers to stately or splendid display, or to display that is ostentatious or vain. When should you use pomp over show, display, or ostentation? Find out on Thesaurus.com.