rock star

noun

plural rock stars

1

: a famous rock musician

From my standpoint, from '72 to '76, I was the ultimate rock star. I couldn't have been more of a rock star. Anything that had to do with being a rock 'n' roll singer was what I was going for.

—David Bowie

He's what I always thought rock stars should be: sexy, dangerous, outrageous, and funny. And at least a little self-aware.

—Doug Brod

2

: a highly accomplished and well-regarded person in a particular field

Locals came streaming across a muddy construction site on the Cooper River to catch a glimpse of the rock star of politics.

—Howard Fineman

The Colchester Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education are the rock stars of our town's elected government.

—Jason Cohen

For the agency, whose mission is building soil health, Brandt [David Brandt, farmer] has emerged as a kind of rock star. He's a "step ahead of the game."

—Tom Philpott

Pale-faced and bespectacled, the 43-year-old Chudzinski is an emerging rock star in NFL coaching circles.

—David G Fleming

… the day of the celebrity chef is seriously upon us. Chefs have become the rock stars of their generation, and we all long to know them better.

—Ruth Reichl

Examples of rock star in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, rock star privilege means the rules don’t apply, and Lil Wayne is absolutely a rock star. —Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2025

The rock star died on July 22, just weeks after performing his farewell show with Black Sabbath, his family previously confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

Now, the Latin rock star is turning up the volume on this homage with the deluxe edition of Bogotá, arriving Thursday (July 31). —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 30 July 2025

Chris Martin has been a busy rock star lately, burning up calories jumping around the stage and calling out people on the Kiss Cam. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rock star

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar