luminary

noun

lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce luminary (audio)
plural luminaries
Synonyms of luminarynext
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
luminary adjective

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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").

Synonyms

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Industry stalwart Rufus Norris received a special award honoring his decade-long tenure as director of the National Theatre, while the evening’s In Memoriam segment paid tribute to Joan Plowright among other industry luminaries lost in the past year. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025 Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando has long been known as the most magical place on earth but fans and industry luminaries have warned that incoming changes could cast a dark spell on the historic theme park. —Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Another feature of Trump's Oval Office is the gold picture frames, which contain portraits of former presidents and American luminaries, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Jackson. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 Built in 1870, the hotel has hosted luminaries like Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for luminary

Word History

Etymology

Middle English luminarye "lamp, source of spiritual light," borrowed from Anglo-French luminarie, luminaire "celestial body, source of light, important person, lamp, candle." borrowed from Late Latin lūmināria, plural (later taken as feminine singular) of lūmināre "opening to let in light, source of light, lamp, torch, heavenly body, important person," from Latin lūmin-, lūmen "light, source of light, opening to let in light" + -ar, -āre, variant (after stems with an l) of -al, -āle, nominalized forms of -ālis -al entry 1 — more at lumen

Note: The earliest Anglo-French attestations, luminaries and luminaires in the Oxford and Cambridge Psalters, are also the earliest French attestations from any source. The vernacular outcome of lūmināria is lumière, which co-occurs in an early text (Chrétien de Troyes, Cligés) with luminaire, though the latter is found just once. — The Latin word lūmināre is attested once in the classical language, in Cato's De agri cultura 14.2. The Oxford Latin Dictionary translates it as "lamp," though the context, a list of items needed to construct and furnish a farm building, suggests that lūmināria have some relationship to windows.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of luminary was in the 15th century

Rhymes for luminary

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Browse Nearby Words

luminarist
luminary
luminate
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Cite this Entry

“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminary. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

luminary

noun
lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce luminary (audio)
plural luminaries
1
: a very famous person
2
: a source of light
especially : one of the heavenly bodies
luminary adjective

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Nglish: Translation of luminary for Spanish Speakers

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