celebrity
gb/səlˈɛbɹɪti/ us/səlˈɛbɹɪti/
A2
English
~ 3300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A well-known public figure
A person who many people know because they are in movies, TV, sports, or other public work.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a celebrity
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'celebrity' (a person) with 'celebration' (an event).
Synonyms
star (Often used in entertainment contexts, especially for actors and musicians; slightly more informal.)
|
public figure (Broader term including politicians and leaders, not just entertainers.)
Antonyms
unknown (Refers to someone not recognized by the public.)
Collocations
famous celebrity
|Hollywood celebrity
|celebrity chef
|celebrity couple
|celebrity gossip
Themes
entertainment
|media
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The charity event was attended by several well-known celebrities.
- Becoming a celebrity can change your life overnight.
- She dreamed of being a celebrity since she was a child.
- The magazine is full of celebrity interviews and photos.
Learner examples
- He is a famous celebrity in the music world.
- The celebrity signed my book.
- Many people took photos of the celebrity.
- She wants to be a celebrity one day.
Noun
B1
state
2
The condition of being famous
The situation of being known by many people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] enjoys celebrity
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly use 'celebrity' instead of 'famous' when describing a quality (e.g., 'He is celebrity' instead of 'He is a celebrity').
Synonyms
fame (More common and general; 'celebrity' as a state is slightly more formal.)
|
renown (More formal and literary in tone.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Refers to being unknown or unnoticed.)
Collocations
rise to celebrity
|achieve celebrity
|enjoy celebrity
|celebrity status
Themes
entertainment
|media
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After his hit movie, he quickly rose to celebrity.
- Her sudden celebrity was difficult to handle.
- The book brought the author unexpected celebrity.
Learner examples
- He became rich and enjoyed celebrity.
- Her song made her rise to celebrity.
- The actor’s celebrity grew after the award.
Grammar
Dictionary form
celebrity
IPA
GB/səlˈɛbɹɪti/
US/səlˈɛbɹɪti/
Syllables & stress
celebrity (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: celebrity
- Plural: celebrities, celebrity
Word family
Forms
celebrities
noun
Core family
celebrate
verb A2
celebration
noun A2
Related words
celebrated
adjective
celebratory
adjective
celebrant
noun
Negative and opposite forms
uncelebrated
adjective
Expressions
A-list celebrity
1/ə lˈɪst səlˈɛbɹɪti/
fixed phrase
informal
Top-ranked famous person
A very famous and successful person in movies, music, or TV.
Examples
- Only A-list celebrities were invited to the exclusive party.
- She became an A-list celebrity after her blockbuster film.
celebrity culture
1/səlˈɛbɹɪti kˈʌlt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
Society’s focus on famous people
A way of life where people are very interested in famous people and their lives.
Examples
- Celebrity culture often makes young people want to be famous.
- Social media has intensified modern celebrity culture.
celebrity status
1/səlˈɛbɹɪti stˈætəs/
fixed phrase
Condition of being widely recognized
When someone is known by many people and treated like an important person.
Examples
- She achieved celebrity status after her first album topped the charts.
- Celebrity status can bring both benefits and challenges.