FAMOUS PEOPLE vs. CELEBRITIES

[Jesule]

Hello! How is it going?


If I say celebrities, Am I meaning "Famous people"?

I have always heard the word "celebrities", but I don´t know if
I can use the adjective "famous" with the noun "people"
to mean that, I mean "celebrities". Can I?

Thanks a lot!

Jesús

[Casiopea]

Yes, and no. For example, the president of a country may be a famous person but not a celebrity.

[Jesule]

Yes, and no. For example, the president of a country may be a famous person but not a celebrity.

Thanks, Casiopea!

But I am not sure if I understood. Then, Is Michael Jackson, for
instance, a famous person and a celebrity as well?

And what about someone who gets ahead,becomes famous by cheating for instance? Is he a celebrity in an ironical sense?

Thanks in advance!

[Casiopea]

Michael Jackson is a famous person and a celebrity. (ahem, some would consider him infamous.)

The word celebrity comes from celebrate, which has a positive meaning. Meaning, however, can be subjective, so, for example, a criminal who receives a great deal of media attention might consider himself/herself a celebrity.