luminary

noun

lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē 

plural luminaries

1

: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement

a literary luminary

a luminary in the medical profession

2

: a body that gives light

especially : one of the celestial bodies

skywatchers … will see one more bright luminary below Orion and Canis Major

—Martin Ratcliffe

luminary adjective

Did you know?

As, dare we say, leading lights of the dictionary game, we're here to brighten your day with the 411 on luminary. This word has been casting its glow in English since the 15th century, and it traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." Other lumen descendants in English include illuminate ("to light up"), luminous ("emitting light"), phillumenist ("one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels"), and bioluminescence ("the emission of light from living organisms").

Synonyms

• sphere
• star
• sun

Examples of luminary in a Sentence

luminaries of the art world

awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky

Recent Examples on the Web

The showpiece occasion has previously featured such luminaries as Diego Maradona, Usain Bolt and Robbie Williams. —Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Along with De La Soul, the film features interviews with other Long Island luminaries such as Rakim, Method Man, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Keith Shocklee, and EPMD’s Parrish Smith and Erick Sermon. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025

George Wendt, Gavin Creel, James Earl Jones, Dame Maggie Smith and Tony Roberts were among the beloved stars and theater luminaries honored. —Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 9 June 2025

Speaking of which, Oprah Winfrey is expected at the show tonight as a presenter, along with other luminaries including Charli D’Amelio, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Lambert, and Keanu Reeves. —Melissa Locker, Time, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English luminarye "lamp, source of spiritual light," borrowed from Anglo-French luminarie, luminaire "celestial body, source of light, important person, lamp, candle." borrowed from Late Latin lūmināria, plural (later taken as feminine singular) of lūmināre "opening to let in light, source of light, lamp, torch, heavenly body, important person," from Latin lūmin-, lūmen "light, source of light, opening to let in light" + -ar, -āre, variant (after stems with an l) of -al, -āle, nominalized forms of -ālis -al entry 1 — more at lumen

Note: The earliest Anglo-French attestations, luminaries and luminaires in the Oxford and Cambridge Psalters, are also the earliest French attestations from any source. The vernacular outcome of lūmināria is lumière, which co-occurs in an early text (Chrétien de Troyes, Cligés) with luminaire, though the latter is found just once. — The Latin word lūmināre is attested once in the classical language, in Cato's De agri cultura 14.2. The Oxford Latin Dictionary translates it as "lamp," though the context, a list of items needed to construct and furnish a farm building, suggests that lūmināria have some relationship to windows.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for luminary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

luminary

noun

lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē 

plural luminaries

1

: a very famous person

2

: a source of light

especially : one of the heavenly bodies

luminary adjective