C-listn.adj.
/ˈsiːlɪst/, U.S. /ˈsiˌlɪst/ Originally U.S.
A. n.
1. The third in a series of lists, esp. lists ranked in order of preference or significance.
ΚΠ
1909 W. H. Beveridge Unemployment v. 89 The preference lists are now of quite minor significance; the ‘C’ list has disappeared altogether, and even ‘B’ tickets are not much regarded.
1963 L. P. Curtis Coercion & Conciliation in Ireland App. 438 The third or ‘C’ list consisted of local agitators and the remainder of Parnell's party, who traveled through the country less frequently.
2000 E. Pond Rebirth of Europe (rev. ed.) 263 Kosovo was initially only on the ‘C list’ of ‘contingencies that indirectly affect U.S. security but do not directly threaten U.S. interests.’
2. Any (notional) list comprising the relatively unimportant members of a particular group, esp. in the entertainment industry or the media; a group of minor or formerly prominent celebrities or socialites.
ΚΠ
1984 Washington Post (Nexis) 12 Dec. c3 I have just received my first Christmas card, however, and it was from someone who merely signed his name... I have dropped to his ‘C’ list.
1987 USA Today 21 Dec. b3 That group packed the second-floor Hutton auditorium last Monday to hear director of research Thomas Stiles announce that everyone present was on ‘The C List’—a group of Huttonites getting the axe.
2001 N.Y. Times 1 July ii. 26/2 He enumerates his objections to a proposed all-Richard Rogers gala, saying ‘What I don't want is just a C-list of people singing “Oh, what a Beautiful Morning”.’
B. adj.
Of or belonging to a C-list; spec. designating or relating to a (notional) roster of relatively unimportant or formerly prominent individuals, esp. in the entertainment industry or the media. Usually attributive.
ΚΠ
1990 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 13 May We pay scale—$1,400 a week—and were talking to guys—A-, B-, C-, D-list actors—who make $500,000 a picture, minimum.
1998 Pi Mag (Univ. Coll. London Union) Nov. 13/2 Numerous C-list celebs mingle with PR types and Trekkies prepared to pay ridiculous amounts of money on a ticket.
2002 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 24 Feb. vi. 24/1 There is ‘the white people who pretend to be black clique’ and the drama clique, which would be ‘C list’, except that, as Jessica puts it, ‘they're not even on the list.’
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1909