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

Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

In the front row, Paul McCartney — former Beatle, eternal rock star, proud father — applauded. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

The 82-year-old rock star’s granddaughter Ella Richards posted a photo on Instagram seeming to show her with a sizable baby bump. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

The words beach read and John Quincy Adams seem about as unlikely a pairing as a folk rock star and a presidential historian. —Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026

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