ENGLISH
REFERENCE

celebrity

n.
US //səˈɫɛbɹɪti// UK //səlˈɛbɹɪti// celebri·ty
  1. 1 a famous person (n.)
    A2 Elementary

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

    • star
    • famous person
    • public figure
  2. 2 the state of being famous (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

Origin

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

Word family

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