lodestar

noun

lode·​star ˈlōd-ˌstär How to pronounce lodestar (audio)
variants or less commonly loadstar
1
archaic : a star that leads or guides
especially : north star
2
: one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide

Did you know?

If you’re looking for inspiration, lodestar may represent the mother lode. The literal, albeit archaic, meaning of lodestar is “a star that leads or guides”; it is a term that has been used especially in reference to the North Star, a star in the Ursa Minor, or Little Dipper, constellation. The lode in both lodestar and mother lode comes from the Middle English word for “course” (lode is still used in some parts of England to mean “waterway”). Both the starry sense of lodestar and the more earthly “something or someone that leads or guides a person or group of people” meaning date back to the 14th century, the time of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who used both in his work. The literal sense had mostly fallen out of use by the early 17th century, but the figurative use shines on.

Examples of lodestar in a Sentence

The idea of public service has been a lodestar for her throughout her life. a society seemingly with unbridled greed as its only lodestar
Recent Examples on the Web In recent years, Orban has emerged as a kind of lodestar for the right-wing movement in the United States. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023 On that front, McKinsey, that lodestar of anodyne corporatespeak, is actually somewhat helpful. Mike Pearl, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023 Even prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Crimea — a coveted prize for centuries, changing hands again and again — has been a lodestar for both sides in this war. Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022 Coalition arithmetic was the lodestar of statecraft: shifts in alliances could upset the balance of power overnight, as the gain or loss of a great power in an alliance dwarfed what any one state could do internally to augment its own power in the short run. Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023 Since war erupted in Ukraine more than two months ago, this landmark house of worship, named for the apostles Peter and Paul, has become a lodestar for those praying for their army’s success against a larger and more powerful invader. Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2022 Considering the increasing sophistication of generative A.I. chatbots, the test is outmoded, and machine intelligence demands a new lodestar, according to Mustafa Suleyman, cofounder of the A.I. lab DeepMind. Rachel Shin, Fortune, 20 June 2023 Drawn in by this shimmering lodestar of freedom, visitors are soon forced to reckon with an archaic world where parched skin and chapped elbows were daily realities. Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 12 May 2023 As for the inspiration for Jordan’s look during the Creed III premiere tour, Bolden adds that a certain iconic film actor is their lodestar. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lodestar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lode sterre, from lode course, from Old English lād

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lodestar was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near lodestar

Cite this Entry

“Lodestar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lodestar. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

lodestar

noun
lode·​star
variants also loadstar
ˈlōd-ˌstär
: a star that leads or guides
especially : north star

Legal Definition

lodestar

noun
lode·​star
ˈlōd-ˌstär
: the amount obtained by multiplying the reasonable amount of hours spent by an attorney working on a case by the reasonable hourly billing rate for purposes of calculating an award of attorney's fees
Etymology

perhaps from the notion of the lodestar as a guiding light or principle

More from Merriam-Webster on lodestar

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