superstar

noun

su·​per·​star ˈsü-pər-ˌstär 

1

: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary

But last year, when people started posting hits from superstars like Madonna and Puff Daddy on the Web, where anyone could download them for free, the record companies went ballistic.

—N'Gai Croal et al.

The notion that superstars are protected by NBA refs is neither a new nor a particularly farfetched one.

—Jack McCallum

2

: one that is very prominent or is a prime attraction

From Wolfgang Puck to Alice Waters, America's leading chefs have become superstars.

—Marian Burros

With that the judge sentenced the one time superstar investor to three years in prison for his role in the largest insider-trading scandal in history.

—Time Magazine

Chardonnay is the superstar among white-wine grapes …

—Barbara Ensrud

superstardom

ˈsü-pər-ˌstär-dəm 

noun

Synonyms

• cause célèbre
• cause celebre
• celeb
• celebrity
• figure
• icon
• ikon
• light
• luminary
• megastar
• name
• notability
• notable
• notoriety
• personage
• personality
• somebody
• standout
• star
• VIP

Examples of superstar in a Sentence

a basketball superstar

Recent Examples on the Web

The shortstop’s batting average is second in MLB behind New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge (.361) and has the second lowest strikeout-rate in baseball at 6.8%. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025

After partnering in December 2024 on Sabrina's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso, the coffee chain and pop superstar are once again collaborating on a new beverage called Sabrina's Strawberry Daydream Refresher. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Reports claim that Jason Momoa, Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, and WWE superstar Roman Reigns will all have roles in the film, slated to release in 2026. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 25 June 2025

More Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Flagg is expected to become a superstar at the next level. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for superstar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar

Kids Definition

superstar

noun

su·​per·​star ˈsü-pər-ˌstär 

: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary

superstardom

-dəm 

noun