circus
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for circus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A travelling show featuring acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, traditionally performed in a large tent.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use circus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin circus ("ring, circle"), ultimately from Greek kirkos — the same root gives us "cirque".
Full origin of circus →Frequently asked questions
What does “circus” mean?
The word “circus” means a travelling show featuring acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, traditionally performed in a large tent. In plain terms, the travelling entertainment show, or, loosely, any chaotic and noisy spectacle.
How do you pronounce “circus”?
“Circus” is pronounced SUR-kuhs (/ˈsɝkəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “circus” in a sentence?
Here is “circus” used in a sentence: “The children begged to go see the circus when it came to town.”
What part of speech is “circus”?
“Circus” is a noun.
Where does the word “circus” come from?
The word “circus” comes from Latin. From Latin circus ("ring, circle"), ultimately from Greek kirkos — the same root gives us "cirque".
Is “circus” a common word?
“Circus” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “circus” have?
“Circus” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a travelling show featuring acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, traditionally performed in a large tent.
Why is Piccadilly Circus called a circus?
In British English, a circus is a round open space in a town where several streets converge. London's Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus take their names from this sense, which reflects the Latin word circus, meaning a ring or circle, not from travelling shows.
What is the difference between a circus and a carnival?
A circus is a travelling show in which acrobats, clowns, and trained animals perform, traditionally inside a large tent. A carnival is a travelling funfair with rides, games, and sideshows, or a festive street celebration; the two overlap in atmosphere but offer different kinds of entertainment.
What is the big top at a circus?
The big top is the large main tent in which a travelling circus performs. By extension, people sometimes use "the big top" to refer to circus life or the circus world as a whole.