lodestar
noun
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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
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
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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
Middle English lode sterre, from lode course, from Old English lād
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Lodestar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lodestar. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
lodestar
noun
Legal Definition
lodestar
nounperhaps from the notion of the lodestar as a guiding light or principle
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