luminary
noun
Martin Ratcliffe 
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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").
Examples of luminary in a Sentence
Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 28 June 2024
Season 3 expands the talent pool to some of the food world’s leading luminaries, several of whom get extended monologues laying out their guiding philosophies.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 June 2024
Drake beef aside, Kendrick Lamar appreciated just being able to bring gang members from different sets and various Los Angeles luminaries with him on stage.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 21 June 2024
Many of the luminaries of this period, themselves friends and mentors of the late Mr. Shabaka, fostered community in jam sessions, rehearsals and performances, at historically Black Los Angeles cultural centers in the Watts and Leimert Park areas.
—Essence, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for luminary 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'luminary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near luminary
Cite this Entry
“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminary. Accessed 10 Jul. 2024.
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luminary
noun
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