Meaning & use

pomp and circumstance

phrase·Advanced

Ceremonial splendor and formal display associated with an important public or official occasion.

See it in a sentence

The coronation was marked by all the pomp and circumstance expected of a royal event.

Graduation ceremonies are often filled with pomp and circumstance, from gowns to formal processions.

A note on using this word

Pomp and circumstance is also the title of a famous orchestral march by Edward Elgar, commonly played at graduation ceremonies in the United States.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pomp and circumstance”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.