celebrity

celebrity — noun

1. a person who is well known to many people, especially through acting, singing, o

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who is well known to many people, especially through acting, singing, or appearing on television or social media

Example

Aiko met a television celebrity at the airport and asked for a photo.

countable noun: a + [adjective] + celebrity

Many young people dream of becoming a celebrity one day.

Common collocations
  • become a celebrity
  • TV celebrity
  • celebrity status
  • celebrity couple
  • celebrity chef
Synonyms
  • star

    especially a performer in film, music, or sport

  • public figure

    more formal; anyone well known in public life, not limited to entertainment

  • VIP

    informal; stands for very important person; broader than entertainment

Antonyms
  • nobody

    informal; a person of no importance or fame

Usage Note

Countable noun — use a/an with singular forms and -s in the plural. Often appears before another noun as a modifier (e.g. celebrity chef, celebrity status).

Common Mistakes

She is celebrity.
She is a celebrity.
celebrity is a countable noun and needs an article or determiner.
He is a famous celebrity.
He is a celebrity.
'famous' is redundant because a celebrity is already famous by definition.

2. the condition of being known and talked about by many people, often as a result

2.nounB2
Definition

the condition of being known and talked about by many people, often as a result of success in a public career

Example

Leila achieved sudden celebrity after her song went viral online.

uncountable: achieved + celebrity

The family enjoyed a brief moment of celebrity when they won the competition.

uncountable: moment of celebrity

Common collocations
  • achieve celebrity
  • moment of celebrity
  • celebrity status
  • instant celebrity
Synonyms
  • fame

    more general; being known by many people

  • stardom

    specifically the status of a star performer

  • renown

    formal; great fame and respect

Antonyms
  • obscurity

    the state of being unknown or forgotten

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — do not use a/an or plural -s. This sense overlaps with 'fame', but 'celebrity' often carries the extra nuance of media attention and public curiosity.

Common Mistakes

He is enjoying his new celebrity status with a celebrity.
He is enjoying his new celebrity status.
using 'a celebrity' (countable sense 1) when you mean the state of being famous (uncountable sense 2) changes the meaning.

Word family

  • celebrate
    verbB1
  • celebration
    nounB1
  • celebrated
    adjectiveB2
  • celebratory
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Celebrity is the broadest of these four words, covering anyone who is widely known — from actors and musicians to social-media influencers. Star is narrower and more admiring, used mainly for top performers in film, music, or sports (movie star, pop star). Public figure is more formal and neutral; it includes politicians, activists, and business leaders, not just entertainers. VIP (very important person) is informal and situational — it can refer to anyone treated with special privileges, whether famous or not. For example, a CEO might be a VIP at a conference but is not necessarily a celebrity. A TV host is a celebrity; a Nobel-winning scientist is a public figure; a lead actor in a blockbuster is a star.

celebritystarpublic figureVIP

Common collocations

Phrases

  • celebrity status
  • celebrity chef
  • celebrity couple
  • celebrity gossip
  • instant celebrity
  • TV celebrity

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Celebrity comes from the Latin 'celeris' meaning 'swift', though the connection to fame comes from the Latin 'celeber' (frequented, crowded, famous). It entered English in the 1600s through French 'célébrité', first meaning 'fame' (the abstract sense 2), and later came to also refer to a famous person (sense 1) by the mid-1800s.