luminary
noun
lu·mi·nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē 
plural luminaries
1
: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement
a literary luminary
a luminary in the medical profession
2
: a body that gives light
especially : one of the celestial bodies
skywatchers … will see one more bright luminary below Orion and Canis Major 
Martin Ratcliffe
Martin Ratcliffe luminary adjective
Did you know?
Allow us to shed some light on luminary. It came to English by way of Anglo-French and Late Latin, and it traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." Other lumen descendants in English include illuminate ("to light up"), luminous ("emitting light") and phillumenist ("one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels"). Luminary has been shining its light in English since the 15th century.
Synonyms
- sphere
- star
- sun
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
luminaries of the art world awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky
Recent Examples on the Web Along with the late Kobe Bryant — another local sports legend with a huge Latino fan base — no other non-Latino Southern California luminary will ever evoke the same emotion among us. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2022 Bo Gritz, himself a former Green Beret and right-wing luminary. New York Times, 13 May 2022 Tens of thousands of Jews flood into Uman, a central city that is home to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a 18th-century Jewish luminary, annually for the Jewish new year. Cnaan Liphshiz, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2022 The program for April 24 is a Monday Evening Concerts performance of Tyshawn Sorey‘s composition tributing experimental music luminary George Lewis. Leigh-ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2022 The snowy-haired soul-pop luminary joined the band in 1975 and helped recast their sound. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 June 2022 No less a luminary than Irwin Griswold said that growth was primarily due to Surrey. Robert Goulder, Forbes, 8 June 2022 But that would go counter to the spirit of a Broadway luminary who is at heart an ensemble trouper dedicated to artistic growth. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 Consider a larger gathering if seeking advice from an industry luminary. Heather Landy, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2022 See More
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2022 Bo Gritz, himself a former Green Beret and right-wing luminary. New York Times, 13 May 2022 Tens of thousands of Jews flood into Uman, a central city that is home to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a 18th-century Jewish luminary, annually for the Jewish new year. Cnaan Liphshiz, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2022 The program for April 24 is a Monday Evening Concerts performance of Tyshawn Sorey‘s composition tributing experimental music luminary George Lewis. Leigh-ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2022 The snowy-haired soul-pop luminary joined the band in 1975 and helped recast their sound. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 June 2022 No less a luminary than Irwin Griswold said that growth was primarily due to Surrey. Robert Goulder, Forbes, 8 June 2022 But that would go counter to the spirit of a Broadway luminary who is at heart an ensemble trouper dedicated to artistic growth. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 Consider a larger gathering if seeking advice from an industry luminary. Heather Landy, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English luminarye, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French luminaire light, luminary, from Late Latin luminaria, plural of luminare lamp, heavenly body, from Latin, window, from lumin-, lumen light; akin to Latin lucēre to shine — more at light
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
luminary 1 of 2
noun
1
as in star
a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- star
- sun
- galaxy
- sphere
- cluster
- supernova
- constellation
- lodestar
- variable
- brown dwarf
- neutron star
- nova
- red dwarf
- white dwarf
- red star
- binary star
- supercluster
- variable star
- quasar
- pulsar
- red giant
- loadstar
- fixed star
- supergiant
- dwarf
- subdwarf
- gasser
- giant star
2
as in celebrity
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about luminaries from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics were at the gala Synonyms & Similar Words
- star
- celebrity
- personality
- dignitary
- personage
- light
- superstar
- hero
- celeb
- notable
- megastar
- icon
- name
- standout
- somebody
- notoriety
- notability
- figure
- eminence
- cause célèbre
- idol
- pillar
- cause celebre
- magnate
- heartthrob
- immortal
- ikon
- favorite
- VIP
- worthy
- monument
- mogul
- demigod
- baron
- bigwig
- nabob
- panjandrum
- big shot
- kahuna
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nobody
- lightweight
- noncelebrity
- mediocrity
- has-been
luminary
2 of 2adjective
as in luminous
Synonyms & Similar Words
- luminous
- illuminated
- dazzling
- light
- lit
- incandescent
- brilliant
- effulgent
- lucent
- illumined
- lighted
- bedazzling
- brightened
- shining
- lucid
- radiant
- bright
- lambent
- shadeless
- sunny
- exposed
- beaming
- lustrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shadowy
- shadowed
- shaded
- shady
- covered
- umbrageous
- sheltered
- cloudy
- canopied
- organizing
- organless
- organo pieno
- organo-
- organochlorine
- organochlorines
- organochlorosilane
- organogeneses
- organogenesis
- organogenetic
- organogenic
- organogenist
- organographic
- organographies
- organoleptic
- organoleptically
- organologic
- organological
- organologies
- organologists
- organomercurial
- organomercurials
- organometallic
- organometallics
- organon