celebrity
/sɪˈlɛbrɪti
/noun (plural celebrities)
1A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport: he became a sporting celebrity [as modifier]: a celebrity chef...
- Over the past few days various local celebrities and sports stars have called in to offer their support.
- Because underneath it all, these stars and celebrities are just normal people.
- It is easy to see why some celebrities change their name when fame beckons.
Synonyms
famous person, VIP, very important person, personality, name, big name, famous name, household name, star, superstar, celebutante, leading light, giant, great, master, guru;
dignitary, luminary, worthy, grandee, lion, public figure, pillar of society, notable, notability, personage, panjandrum
informal heavyweight, celeb, somebody, someone, bigwig, biggie, big shot, big noise, big gun, big cheese, big chief, nob, lady muck, lord muck, top brass, honcho, head honcho, top dog, mogul, supremo, megastar, heavy, fat cat
North American informal big wheel, big kahuna, kahuna, top banana, big enchilada, macher, high muckamuck, high muckety-muck
1.1 [mass noun] The state of being well known: his prestige and celebrity grew...
- They have achieved celebrity, not true fame, as all people sound of mind will understand.
- As long as they were near a main road, they could achieve national celebrity.
- Such reticence, of course, is a cardinal sin in a media world that worships the gods of celebrity and fame.
Synonyms
fame, prominence, renown, eminence, pre-eminence, importance, stardom, popularity, distinction, greatness, note, notability, prestige, stature, standing, position, rank, repute, reputation, illustriousness, glory, acclaim, influence, account, consequence, visibility
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'solemn ceremony'): from Old French celebrite or Latin celebritas, from celeber, celebr- 'frequented or honoured'.
A celebrity was originally a solemn ceremony, although the Latin source of celebrity and celebrate, from the same period and originally meaning to perform a public religious ceremony, is closer to our modern sense. It comes from Latin celebritas, from celeber ‘frequented or honoured’.