English Reference

Word

celebrity

Phoneticscelebri·ty

US/səˈɫɛbɹɪti/

UK/səlˈɛbɹɪti/

Definitions

01a famous person

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a person who is very famous, especially in movies, music, or sports.

n. a person who has attained a high degree of public recognition and media attention.

“The restaurant was full of celebrities after the movie awards show.”

“The young athlete struggled to adjust to the constant media scrutiny that comes with being a global celebrity.”

Synonyms

starfamous personpublic figure

Antonyms

02the state of being famous

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the state of being well-known or talked about by many people.

n. the state or quality of being widely known or celebrated; renown.

“She achieved celebrity at a young age after her first book became a hit.”

“The documentary explores the fleeting nature of celebrity in the age of social media viral trends.”

Etymology

From Middle English celebritē, from Old French celebrite (compare French célébrité), from Latin celēbritās.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/celebrity

English Reference