celebrity
Americannoun
-
celebrities
plural
-
a famous or well-known person.
-
fame; renown.
- Synonyms:
- stardom, eminence, note, distinction
noun
-
a famous person
a show-business celebrity
-
fame or notoriety
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of celebrity
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin celebritās multitude, fame, festal celebration, equivalent to celebr- (stem of celeber ) often repeated, famous + -itās -ity
Explanation
A celebrity is a very famous person. If you single-handedly save an entire family from a burning building, you'll become a local celebrity. Celebrity comes directly from the Latin celebritatum, meaning famous, and is related to the verb celebrate which means to honor something with the proper ritual. We usually use celebrity now when we talk about entertainment stars, but someone doesn't have to be on the supermarket tabloids to be a celebrity. Celebrity can also be used to mean the state of fame. If you are seeking celebrity, develop a thick skin for nasty rumors.
Vocabulary lists containing celebrity
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Academy Awards, List 5
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Lesson 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Paris Tsartas, professor of tourism development at Harokopio University in Athens, told AFP the deluge of celebrity endorsements gave Greece a powerful boost as a summer destination -- particularly with the lucrative American market.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
The English academic had been named Cambridge’s youngest-ever Black professor a few years previously and had since become a minor U.K. media celebrity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The unraveling of Dr. Phil’s media venture was a blow to the celebrity therapist who built a reputation as one of the most trusted voices on television.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Weber also worked on “Gigli,” the 2003 film known for sparking what would become one of the most iconic celebrity couples in pop culture: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
She filled me in on school gossip, celebrity gossip, and even gossip from her neighbors.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and other celebrities "could face £34m bill" writes the Times, after their failed privacy action suit.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Nicklin rejected requests by Harry and the other celebrities to pay on a standard basis, instead favouring arguments by ANL that its costs should be repaid on a stricter so-called indemnity basis.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Silver Lake has also been home to several celebrities over the years, including actress Olivia Wilde, actor James Franco, and comedian Fred Armisen.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
These packages, which often run into thousands of dollars, attract many celebrities and corporate buyers who see the Games as a chance to butter up clients or reward top performers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
They acted more like they knew they were celebrities and all.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
