ENGLISH
REFERENCE

diva

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdivə// UK //dˈiːvɐ// di·va Informal Slang Vulgar

n. a famous female singer or actress who is very talented but also demands special treatment. You use this word when someone acts like they are more important than everyone else.

n. a highly skilled female performer, especially in opera, who is perceived as demanding or difficult. By extension, any person who behaves with excessive self-importance or high maintenance needs.


SIMPLE

She acts like a total diva in the office.

CONTEXTUAL

The lead singer is a diva who refuses to perform unless her dressing room is exactly how she wants it.

COMPLEX

While her vocal prowess was undeniable, her reputation as a diva often overshadowed her artistic contributions, making collaborators wary of her temperamental demands.

Origin

From Italian diva (“diva, goddess”), from Latin dīva (“goddess”), female of dīvus (“divine, divine one; notably a deified mortal”), from Old Latin deivā, from Proto-Italic deiwā (“goddess”), feminine of deiwos (“god”), from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god”).

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