Meanings
- derogatoryHaving attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason; appearing to generate one's own fame, or well-known only through association with an existing celebrity, as opposed to fame based on achievements, skill, or talent.
Origin
The term originates from an analysis of the media-dominated world called The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-events in America (1961), by historian and social theorist Daniel J. Boorstin, in which he defined the celebrity as "a person who is known for his well-knownness".
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French célèbre parce qu'on est célèbre, célèbre pour sa célébrité
- célèbre parce qu'on est célèbrehaving attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason
- célèbre pour sa célébritéhaving attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason
Italian famoso per essere famoso
- famoso per essere famosohaving attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason
Spanish famoso por ser famoso
- famoso por ser famosohaving attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason
Cite this entry
famous for being famous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/famous%20for%20being%20famous
“famous for being famous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/famous%20for%20being%20famous. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “famous for being famous,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/famous%20for%20being%20famous.
Source: famous for being famous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.