socialite

[ soh-shuh-lahyt ]

noun

1. a socially prominent person.

socialite

/ ˈsəʊʃəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a person who is or seeks to be prominent in fashionable society

Word History and Origins

Origin of socialite¹

First recorded in 1925–30; social + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Since the gorgeously dressed socialite had shocked people in the modest abolition world by walking into a meeting in 1834, her fashionable Boston town house had become the beating heart of the Society that fueled the movement.

From Time

When she came of age, Patrizia was a socialite in Milan, but despite her stepfather’s wealth, she was not necessarily part of Milan’s high society.

From Time

Born and raised in New York City, Shields is the product of Teri, a socialite and model, and Francis, a businessman, who separated after just a few months of marriage when Brooke was still a baby.

From Washington Post

Once a community socialite, Geraldine Powe would hardly leave the house.

From Washington Post

Until she was indicted on multiple sex abuse charges on Wednesday, Baltimore socialite Molly Shattuck was practically perfect.

From The Daily Beast

Another was the British socialite and photographer Tamara Beckwith, who now resides in New York.

From The Daily Beast

She said she had been single since a relationship ended two-and-a-half years before with [banker and socialite] Orin Lehman.

From The Daily Beast

Kardashian was a relatively unknown socialite until 2007, when a sex tape of her with singer Ray J was released.

From The Daily Beast

Paris Hilton was just another party-hopping socialite until her then-boyfriend, Rick Salomon, released their sex tape.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• debutante