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luminary

[ loo-muh-ner-ee ]
/ ˈlu məˌnɛr i /
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See synonyms for: luminary / luminaries on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural lu·mi·nar·ies.
a celestial body, such as the sun or moon.
a body, object, etc., that gives light.
a person who has attained eminence in their field or is an inspiration to others: The book was written by one of the luminaries in the field of medical science.
adjective
of, relating to, or characterized by light.
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Origin of luminary

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English luminarye, from Medieval Latin lūmināria “lamp”; see luminaria
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use luminary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for luminary

luminary
/ (ˈluːmɪnərɪ) /

noun plural -naries
a person who enlightens or influences others
a famous person
literary something, such as the sun or moon, that gives off light
adjective
of, involving, or characterized by light or enlightenment

Word Origin for luminary

C15: via Old French, from Latin lūmināre lamp, from lūmen light
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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