noun
sideshow
SYD-shoh
Sideshow (noun) means a minor attraction at a larger event such as a fair or circus. Example: “The bearded lady was one of the sideshow attractions at the carnival.”
noun
1
A minor attraction at a larger event such as a fair or circus.
"They taught the twins to play saxophone and transferred them from the sideshow to vaudeville."
— Joe Nickell, Secrets of the Sideshows (2005)
"The bearded lady was one of the sideshow attractions at the carnival."
2
An event or issue that distracts from something more important.
"The scandal became a sideshow that overshadowed the actual policy debate."
How to use sideshow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA minor attraction, or a distraction from the main matter at hand.
Common pairings
carnival sideshow
a mere sideshow
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Word forms
- Plural
- sideshows
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bearded lady was one of the _____ attractions at the carnival.
Etymology
A compound of "side" and "show".
Frequently asked questions
What does “sideshow” mean?
The word “sideshow” means a minor attraction at a larger event such as a fair or circus. In plain terms, a minor attraction, or a distraction from the main matter at hand.
How do you pronounce “sideshow”?
“Sideshow” is pronounced SYD-shoh (/ˈsaɪdˌʃoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sideshow” in a sentence?
Here is “sideshow” used in a sentence: “The bearded lady was one of the sideshow attractions at the carnival.”
What part of speech is “sideshow”?
“Sideshow” is a noun.
How many meanings does “sideshow” have?
“Sideshow” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a minor attraction at a larger event such as a fair or circus.
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