Michelin star

noun

Mich·​e·​lin star ˈmi-shə-lən- 

plural Michelin stars

: an honor awarded by the Michelin Guide to a restaurant in recognition of consistently high-quality cooking

… earned a third Michelin star for his New York restaurant this autumn …

—Jay Cheshes

He spoke of life before Michelin stars, when he was a kid … who found belonging in a fine dining kitchen.

—Francesca Bond

—often used before another noun

Many Michelin star restaurants ask diners to dress … to show respect for the experience.

—Poppy Atkinson Gibson

Michelin-starred

ˈmi-shə-lən-ˌstärd 

adjective

or Michelin starred

… executing each course with the focus and discipline that a Michelin-starred kitchen demands.

—Zoë François

The Michelin starred chef is famous for his fiery and foul-mouthed persona …

—Siobhan Macdonald

Examples of Michelin star in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The eatery earned a Michelin star in May, which the French tire company later stripped. — Zoey Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Pujol went on to collect numerous awards, earning a spot in the top ten of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and two Michelin stars when the guide launched in the capital city in 2024. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2026

Uberto in Gay, Georgia is one of the two new Georgia restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Smith was the original chef behind Atlanta’s storied Staplehouse, which was a 2024 Michelin star recipient but surrendered the award after the restaurant changed its format from multi-course fine dining to casual counter-service café. — Mike Jordan, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above