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Definition of marquee

marquee

/mɑːrˈkiː/
mar · quee

Plural:marquees
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marquee Lexical Profile

marquee Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A permanent canopy or roof-like projection over the entrance of a theater, hotel, or similar building, often displaying illuminated signs or performance details.

Example

"We waited for our friends right under the theater marquee before the play started."


2

British A large tent used for outdoor social events, exhibitions, or commercial functions.

Example

"The wedding reception was held in a beautifully decorated marquee on the lawns of the manor."


3

A graphical interface element in software, such as a scrolling text display on a webpage or a moving dashed line used to select an area within an image editor.

Example

"Use the marquee tool in Photoshop to select a rectangular portion of the image."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for marquee

• Rhymes for marquee

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 17th century: A back-formation from the French word 'marquise' (marchioness). The term originally referred to a large, elegant tent deemed suitable for a person of rank. English speakers mistakenly interpreted the final 's' sound as a plural marker and dropped it to create the singular 'marquee'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Marquee. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/marquee
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