Meaning & use
luminary
Last updated
A person who is highly influential or inspiring within a particular field.
See it in a sentence
The conference brought together luminaries from science, medicine, and technology.
She is considered a luminary of modern jazz.
A note on using this word
Its older, literal meaning refers to a body that gives off light, like the sun or moon; the figurative sense for an inspiring or influential person is now by far the more common usage.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A natural body that gives off light, such as the sun or moon.
Ancient poets often addressed the moon as the luminary of the night sky.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “luminary”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.