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

Harris plans appearances with rock star Jon Bon Jovi in Charlotte, the biggest city in North Carolina, which is tied with Georgia for the second-biggest prize of the swing states. —Terry Moseley, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Raven-Symoné starred as her best friend, Nebula Wade, as well as Gregory Smith (Zenon's crush on planet earth) and Phillip Rhys (rock star Proto Zoa). —Angel Saunders, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

More than half a century into his career, Bruce Springsteen is one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024

The former president got a rock star welcome from several thousand people after being introduced on stage by rap icon Eminem. —Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1