North Star

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. Polaris.

---

North Star British  

noun

1. another name for Polaris

---

North Star Scientific  

1. See Polaris

---

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.

---

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

Yesterday’s north star of global financial harmony has yielded to today’s realpolitik.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Buckley thanked director Chloe Zhao and co-stars Paul Mescal and Emily Watson in her acceptance speech, calling Watson her "north star".

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

But “importantly, we are not seeing a fundamental deterioration in profits, the north star of this bull market,” Truist’s Lerner said in his note.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 14, 2025

The company is making profitable growth its north star and shedding distribution points that have been underperforming, Chief Executive Josh Charlesworth said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

At the first clearing Mabel found the north star and reoriented.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead