Celebrity

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /sᵻˈlÉ›bɹᵻti/

Origin

From Old French celebrite (compare French célébrité), from Latin celebritas.

Full definition of celebrity

Noun

1. (obsolete) A rite or ceremony. 17th-18th c.
2. (uncountable) Fame, renown; the state of being famous or talked-about. from 17th c.
3. A person who has a high degree of recognition by the general population; a famous person (Celebrity (person)). from 19th c.
• 1897, w, w:The Celebrity Chapter 1, I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me. I look upon notoriety with the same indifference as on the buttons on a man's shirt-front, or the crest on his note-paper.

Synonyms

• (fame) big name, distinction, eminence, renown
• (person who has a high degree of recognition) big name, luminary, notable (noun)

Related terms

• celebutard