celebrity

Celebrity, n.; pl. Celebriries.

Etymology: [L. celebritas: cf. F. célébrité.]

1. Celebration; solemnization. [Obs.] The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon.

2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell.

3. A person of distinction or renown; -- usually in the plural; as, he is one of the celebrities of the place.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for celebrity; he lists it under fame.

Where he writes about it:

Celebrity is limited in range; we speak of local celebrity, or world-wide fame. — from fame

Synonyms

fame credit distinction eminence glory honor laurels notoriety renown reputation repute

Antonyms

contempt contumely discredit disgrace dishonor disrepute humiliation ignominy infamy oblivion obscurity shame

etymology Webster’s online