Celebrity can mean eitherone of two alternatives fame and public acclaimstrong public praise or approval, or a person who is well known. The most common everyday use is the second one, referringpointing to or speaking about something to a famous person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /səˈlɛbrəti/
Easy pronunciation: suh-LEB-ri-tee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable, LEB.
This uses the person sense: a widely known person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Celebrity Meaning
a famous person
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a widely known person
Example: The concert was full of celebrities and local reporters.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- famous person — Direct match for the person sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Celebrity
Meaning 2
fame or public recognition
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
Example: Her celebrity grew after the award-winning film was released.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fame — Works for the quality or condition of being well known.
- renown — A close match for public acclaim or reputation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Celebrity Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- famous person
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
- fame
- renown
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using celebrity to mean the same as fame in every context. It can also mean a famous person.
- Assuming it only refers to movie stars; it can refer to any widely known person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does celebrity mean?
Celebrity usually means a famous person. It can also mean fame or the state of being widely admired and recognized.
What are synonyms for celebrity?
For the person sense, a good synonym is famous person. For the fame sense, the best synonyms are fame and renown.
Is celebrity a noun?
Yes. Celebrity is usually a noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.