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

Later, when Bono and U2 had become world famous, the rock star informed his Da that Luciano Pavarotti had phoned to ask the band to collaborate on a song. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 May 2025

The rock star spoke out several times during the show, later posting clips of his comments to his Instagram account. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 15 May 2025

At the first show of his Land of Hopes and Dreams Tour in Manchester, England, the rock star slammed President Donald Trump’s administration from the Co-Op Live stage Wednesday (May 14). —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 May 2025

The photo features the rock star and his daughter walking arm-in-arm. —Nicole Briese, People.com, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rock star

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar