rock star

noun

plural rock stars

1

: a famous rock musician

From my standpoint, from '72 to '76, I was the ultimate rock star. I couldn't have been more of a rock star. Anything that had to do with being a rock 'n' roll singer was what I was going for.

—David Bowie

He's what I always thought rock stars should be: sexy, dangerous, outrageous, and funny. And at least a little self-aware.

—Doug Brod

2

: a highly accomplished and well-regarded person in a particular field

Locals came streaming across a muddy construction site on the Cooper River to catch a glimpse of the rock star of politics.

—Howard Fineman

The Colchester Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education are the rock stars of our town's elected government.

—Jason Cohen

For the agency, whose mission is building soil health, Brandt [David Brandt, farmer] has emerged as a kind of rock star. He's a "step ahead of the game."

—Tom Philpott

Pale-faced and bespectacled, the 43-year-old Chudzinski is an emerging rock star in NFL coaching circles.

—David G Fleming

… the day of the celebrity chef is seriously upon us. Chefs have become the rock stars of their generation, and we all long to know them better.

—Ruth Reichl

Examples of rock star in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The release, which was in the works prior to the rock star’s passing on July 22, features signature boot and canvas styles from the footwear brand. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025

Does time heal old wounds and soften even the hardest and naughtiest of rock stars? —Lori Majewski, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025

When Johnson walks onto that stage, he’s greeted like a rock star. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025

Mamdani is a social media rock star whose engagement rate on Instagram is 6 percent, far higher than most political accounts. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rock star

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar