North Star

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. Polaris.

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North Star British  

noun

1. another name for Polaris

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North Star Scientific  

1. See Polaris

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North Star Cultural  

1. A star positioned along the line in space that includes the axis (see also axis) of rotation of the Earth. For this reason, the star does not appear to move in the sky, but remains fixed above the North Pole.

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Discover More

Locating the North Star is useful in navigation.

Etymology

Origin of North Star

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

North Star

Chinatown has always been a North Star in Jessica Wang’s life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

You may feel like the black sheep of your family, but you can be the North Star of your own life, and your son’s life, and your friends’ lives.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

Zuckerberg, who has made AI the company's North Star, defended the program during an internal meeting: "AI models learn by watching really smart people do things," he said, according to Wired.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

Millett, who has tried for years to buy BlueScope’s North Star plant, told analysts on a conference call, “There has been no constructive engagement by the company since” the offer was turned down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026

“There’s your North Star right there. Don’t never have to be lost when you know where that fellow is.”

From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo