rock star

noun

plural rock stars

1

: a famous rock musician

From my standpoint, from '72 to '76, I was the ultimate rock star. I couldn't have been more of a rock star. Anything that had to do with being a rock 'n' roll singer was what I was going for.

—David Bowie

He's what I always thought rock stars should be: sexy, dangerous, outrageous, and funny. And at least a little self-aware.

—Doug Brod

2

: a highly accomplished and well-regarded person in a particular field

Locals came streaming across a muddy construction site on the Cooper River to catch a glimpse of the rock star of politics.

—Howard Fineman

The Colchester Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education are the rock stars of our town's elected government.

—Jason Cohen

For the agency, whose mission is building soil health, Brandt [David Brandt, farmer] has emerged as a kind of rock star. He's a "step ahead of the game."

—Tom Philpott

Pale-faced and bespectacled, the 43-year-old Chudzinski is an emerging rock star in NFL coaching circles.

—David G Fleming

… the day of the celebrity chef is seriously upon us. Chefs have become the rock stars of their generation, and we all long to know them better.

—Ruth Reichl

Examples of rock star in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jett became a bona fide rock star fronting her own band in the 1980s, but was previously a member of groundbreaking all-girl band The Runaways, who have yet to be nominated. —Troy Smith, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

The project, described as a story revolving around a conflict between a rock star and a wedding singer, provided Jonas with the chance to draw from his own experiences as a musician to build the character of Danny Wilson. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024

Bringing in dramatic chromatics to reflect the couple’s charisma was a primary focus, as was toggling between Americana and gothic English design for a splash of irreverence suiting a rock star and supermodel. —Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 11 Dec. 2024

The septuagenarian rock star and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will bring his solo project to the Brown County Music Center May 20. —Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1