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

And rock stars made work look like a party: Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Prince all crisscrossed the globe playing concerts for adoring fans. —John Russell, Peoplemag, 20 June 2024

The rescue group got connected with Cooper through Oza's coworker at a Detroit veterinary clinic: That staffer, who’s also part of a Garden City firm involved with celebrity bookings, sent word to the rock star about Michigan Cat Rescue. —Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 25 May 2024

But even rock stars have been dinged by real estate sticker shock in South Florida. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 9 June 2024

While known as rock stars to most, these musicians also hold another very special title: Dad! —Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1