celebrity

noun

ce·​leb·​ri·​ty sə-ˈle-brə-tē 

plural celebrities

1

: the state of being celebrated : fame

The actress lived a life of celebrity.

2

: a famous or celebrated person

Many celebrities attended the awards ceremony.

Synonyms of celebrity

• star
• personality
• celeb

Examples of celebrity in a Sentence

The actress lived a life of celebrity.

There were many celebrities at the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

The free website and app were billed as an immersive, creative outlet where users could mingle with AI characters based on historical figures, cartoons and celebrities. —Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025

An acclaimed actor, director and proud Utah resident, Redford was one of the first celebrities to use his platform to draw attention to environmental issues in the 1970s. —Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025

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

Phrases Containing celebrity

• cult of celebrity
• local celebrity

Kids Definition

celebrity

noun

ce·​leb·​ri·​ty sə-ˈleb-rət-ē 

plural celebrities

1

: the state of being celebrated : fame

his short-lived celebrity

2

: a famous or celebrated person