diva
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of diva
1880–85; < Italian < Latin dīva, feminine of dīvus god; cf. divine
Explanation
Technically, a diva is a big-time female opera star. Beverly Sills and Maria Callas were two of the world's most renowned divas. More commonly, though, we call anyone who thinks they're more fabulous than everyone else a diva. The word diva was a compliment, one reserved for only the greatest singers in the world. Lately, though, diva has come to describe someone that's acting entitled or holier than thou. A person who acts like the world revolves around her is a diva. If you walk into a packed restaurant and demand the best table snapping, "Don't you know who I am?", well, that's diva behavior.
Vocabulary lists containing diva
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What the Night Sings
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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.
She then simply turned away and playing the diva, gave an emphatic "No".
From BBC • May 10, 2026
"I discovered that the vintage pieces that I wore went missing -- my costume that was pulled from my personal archives -- jacket, corset, dress and other garments," the diva wrote.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
She gave thanks and recognition to the Mexican community and followed with her second duet of the night: the mariachi-assisted reggaeton kiss-off track, “Mamiii,” with L.A.’s homegrown diva Becky G.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
“Sexistential” finds the woman meeting the dance floor diva for a stunning moment of kinship and clarity.
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
I just assumed the war would end and, in a seamless path, I'd go to conservatory and become a famous diva, like her.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
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.
