CELEBRITY

celebrity, famous person

(noun) a widely known person; “he was a baseball celebrity”

fame, celebrity, renown

(noun) the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

celebrity (countable and uncountable, plural celebrities)

(obsolete) A rite or ceremony. [17th-18th c.]

(uncountable) Fame, renown; the state of being famous or talked-about. [from 17th c.]

Synonyms: big name, distinction, fame, eminence, renown

A person who has a high degree of recognition by the general population for his or her success or accomplishments; a famous person (Wikipedia). [from 19th c.]

Synonyms: big name, star, celeb (informal), sleb (informal), luminary, notable, media darling

Source: Wiktionary

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Ce*leb"ri*ty, n.; pl. Celebriries. Etym: [L. celebritas: cf. F. célébrité.]

1. Celebration; solemnization. [Obs.] The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon.

2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell.

3. A person of distinction or renown; -- usually in the plural; as, he is one of the celebrities of the place.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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