# diva

/ˈdivə/ (US) · /dˈiːvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diva
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a famous singer

noun · CEFR B2

a very famous and successful female singer, especially one who performs opera or pop music.

For teachers: a celebrated female singer, originally referring to a leading opera performer (prima donna) but now applied to pop icons.

- The legendary opera diva received a standing ovation that lasted for ten minutes.
- The marketing campaign positioned the young vocalist as the next great pop diva, drawing comparisons to the icons of the nineties.

### 2. a demanding person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who acts like they are very important and is difficult to please or very demanding.

For teachers: a person who behaves in a temperamental, self-important, or excessively demanding manner regarding their personal needs.

- Stop being such a diva and just help us carry these boxes.
- The lead actor developed a reputation for being a diva after he refused to leave his trailer until his specific brand of water was provided.

### 3. a confident person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a person who looks great and acts with a lot of confidence and style.

For teachers: a term of endearment or praise for someone who presents themselves with exceptional confidence, style, or feminine power.

- You look like a total diva in that dress tonight.
- The performer walked onto the stage like a true diva, instantly capturing the attention of everyone in the room with her poise.

## Examples

- She acts like a total diva in the office.
- The lead singer is a diva who refuses to perform unless her dressing room is exactly how she wants it.
- While her vocal prowess was undeniable, her reputation as a diva often overshadowed her artistic contributions, making collaborators wary of her temperamental demands.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.