A spectacle is something so unusual, dramatic, or impressive that it draws attention and creates a striking scene. When a street performer juggles flaming torches while riding a unicycle, they create a spectacle. When a meteor shower fills the night sky with streaks of light, it's a natural spectacle.

The word often suggests something visual and somewhat grand or showy. A spectacular play in football, where a receiver makes an impossible catch, stops everyone in their tracks. A costume covered in sequins and feathers might be called spectacularly ornate.

Sometimes spectacle carries a hint that something is too showy or dramatic, almost like a performance. If someone makes a spectacle of themselves, they're drawing attention in an embarrassing or over-the-top way, like throwing a tantrum in public or bragging loudly about winning a game.

The word also refers to eyeglasses, though we rarely use it this way anymore. You might read in an old book about someone “adjusting their spectacles” before reading.