Luminary

Luminary is a term with two broad meanings. In everyday language, a luminary is a person who inspires others or who is widely admired in a particular field—a celebrated figure, an authority, or a celebrity. The word comes from Latin lumen, meaning light, and the suffix -arius, forming a noun that denotes a bearer of light.

In astronomy, luminary refers to a celestial body that emits light. The Sun is the primary luminary in the solar system, and stars are distant luminaries in the night sky. The term is more often used to emphasize the intrinsic light-emitting property of a body, rather than mere reflected light from planets or the Moon, which reflect sunlight rather than generate it.

In usage, the term is common in phrases such as "a luminary of neuroscience" or "industry luminaries," indicating notable and influential people. The plural form luminaries refers to prominent individuals collectively. The word is often found in biographical writing, journalism, and cultural commentary.

In modern contexts, luminaries can appear in a literal or figurative sense. In lighting design, the related word luminaire designates a lighting fixture, while luminary as a person is the standard metaphorical usage.