celebrity

noun

ce·leb·ri·ty sə-ˈle-brə-tē

plural celebrities

Synonyms of celebrity next

: the state of being celebrated : fame

The actress lived a life of celebrity.

: a famous or celebrated person

Many celebrities attended the awards ceremony.

Example Sentences

The actress lived a life of celebrity. There were many celebrities at the party.

Recent Examples on the Web Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. —

Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2023 Related Story 6 Nail Shapes to Know for Your Next Mani Related Story These Are the Top Nail Trends to Try in 2023 Samantha Olson Assistant Editor Sam is an assistant editor at Seventeen, covering pop culture, celebrity news, health, and beauty. —

Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 10 Mar. 2023 Here, see all of the celebrity arrivals to Versace’s fall 2023 show in Los Angeles. —

Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2023 Before the show began, photographers scrambled for last-minute photos of celebrity pairings, including Hathaway and Lil Nas X, Cyrus and Cher, and Cher and John. —

Marc Malkin, Variety, 10 Mar. 2023 The three-month trial, beginning in late-2004, became a spellbinding mix of rise-and-fall celebrity and salacious details. —

Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023 Donald Trump plans to cash in on celebrity currency once again. —

Karu F. Daniels, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2023 The multiple-part New York Times Presents documentary series investigates celebrity cover-up man Anthony Pellicano and reveals his most heinous crimes. —

oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023 Similar to most celebrity businesses, Islamov’s Maya Bagel Express has gained popularity amongst his fans. —

Josh Wilson, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'celebrity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English celebrite "fame, renown," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French celebrité, borrowed from Latin celebritāt-, celebritās "busy or crowded conditions, reputation, fame," from celebr-, celeber "much used, frequented, widely known, famed" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at celebrate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of celebrity was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century