What does megastar mean?
A megastar is a person whose fame and success are exceptionally great, especially a performer admired by audiences across many countries. The word is frequently used for singers, actors, entertainers, and athletes, although it can also be applied more broadly to exceptionally famous or successful figures. It is more emphatic than terms such as celebrity or star, suggesting not merely recognition but a degree of prominence comparable to the largest stars in the entertainment industry. In everyday use, it may also carry a mildly promotional or exaggerated tone, so writers sometimes choose it for its impact rather than to make a precise distinction. The expression combines the classical idea of a celestial body with the modern vocabulary of popular culture.
nounAn exceptionally successful and internationally famous performer or public figure. The term is especially common for singers, actors, athletes, and other entertainers.
- An exceptionally successful and internationally famous performer or public figure, especially an entertainer.
"The young singer became a megastar after her debut album topped the international charts."
"The stadium was packed with fans who had come to see a musical megastar."
"After the series became a global success, the actor was widely described as a television megastar."
The usual plural form, used for multiple exceptionally famous performers or public figures.
"Several music megastars appeared at the televised ceremony."
One star shines in the sky; a megastar shines across the entertainment world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does megastar come from?
The word combines the prefix mega-, from Greek mégas, meaning “great” or “large,” with star, an Old English word for a luminous celestial body. The combination originally reflected the astronomical sense of a star of exceptional magnitude before becoming common for exceptionally famous performers. Its figurative use follows the established tendency to describe prominent entertainers and public figures as stars.
How megastar is actually used
The term is informal and often promotional or hyperbolic. It is most common in journalism and entertainment media, particularly when describing performers with broad international fame.