WordGarden.iostellar
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈɛlə/
US
- /ˈstɛlər/
Meanings
Adjective
excellent; outstanding
relating to stars or outer space
Beyond the definition
When something is stellar, it is truly exceptional, like a shining star. It can describe anything of very high quality or performance. A stellar student gets straight A's, and a stellar meal is one you remember for years. The word also literally means "relating to the stars," which brings to mind their brightness and vastness. You might see it in phrases like stellar activity or stellar light.
The link between "excellent" and "stars" goes back a long way. Stars have long suggested beauty, distance, and wonder. So, when you call something stellar, you are saying it stands out in an impressive way. You might say a musician gave a stellar performance, or that a company has a stellar reputation.
The word stellar has two main meanings: one literal and one figurative. In the literal sense, stellar refers to anything related to the stars: their light, motion, structure, or development. Astronomers talk about stellar evolution, stellar winds, and stellar explosions such as supernovae. In this use, the word belongs to the language of astronomy and space science.
More commonly in everyday English, stellar is used figuratively to describe something outstandingly good or impressive. It suggests a level of excellence that feels special and easy to notice. You might say someone gave a stellar presentation at work, meaning it was extremely well done and left a strong impression. A restaurant with stellar reviews is praised again and again by its customers.
The word comes from the Latin stellaris, meaning "of stars." That link helps explain why the figurative meaning feels so vivid. When people use stellar as praise, they are comparing something to the brightness and brilliance of a star. It does not just mean "good"; it means impressively good.
So, whether you are talking about astronomy or praising someone's work, stellar carries a sense of brightness, distinction, and exceptional quality. It is a strong, positive word for something that clearly stands above the ordinary.
Examples
- 1
Performance
She gave a stellar performance in the final concert.
- 2
Reputation
The restaurant has earned a stellar reputation for its seafood.
- 3
Business results
Sales were stellar this summer, far above what the company expected.
- 4
Movie cast
The movie has a stellar cast, so a lot of people want to see it.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Mild criticism
My French is improving, but it’s still not stellar.
- Phrasenot stellar
not very good, in a mild way
- 6
Astronomy
Astronomers found signs of dust around a young stellar system.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- impressive
- first-rate
- world-class
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- stellar performance
- stellar reputation
- stellar record
- stellar reviews
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- stellaradjective