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?
As, dare we say, leading lights of the dictionary game, we're here to brighten your day with the 411 on luminary. This word has been casting its glow in English since the 15th century, and it traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." Other lumen descendants in English include illuminate ("to light up"), luminous ("emitting light"), phillumenist ("one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels"), and bioluminescence ("the emission of light from living organisms").
Examples of luminary in a Sentence
luminaries of the art world
awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky
Recent Examples on the Web
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy told the audience of TV luminaries that ministers are prepared to legislate if YouTube declines to prominently promote public service content.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025
She and fellow luminaries such as Sheryl Crow and the Indigo Girls are featured in interviews discussing its cultural popularity and subsequent backlash, while modern stars like Olivia Rodrigo opine on the tour's influence.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Melissa Proctor, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Hawks and State Farm Arena, is one of several luminaries across the business, music, sports, and tech worlds who have added their voices to WAY.
—Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Herzl and many other Zionist luminaries came from secular backgrounds, but the movement also included more observant Jews.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
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Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025
She and fellow luminaries such as Sheryl Crow and the Indigo Girls are featured in interviews discussing its cultural popularity and subsequent backlash, while modern stars like Olivia Rodrigo opine on the tour's influence.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Melissa Proctor, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Hawks and State Farm Arena, is one of several luminaries across the business, music, sports, and tech worlds who have added their voices to WAY.
—Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Herzl and many other Zionist luminaries came from secular backgrounds, but the movement also included more observant Jews.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
Cite this Entry
“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminary. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
luminary
noun
lu·mi·nary
ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē
plural luminaries
1
: a very famous person
2
: a source of light
especially
: one of the heavenly bodies
luminary
adjective
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