This article explains the collective term for famous people. For other meanings of celebrity and prominent, see celebrity (disambiguation).
The term prominence (from Latin: prominentia = the outstanding; from pro minere) is usually used in everyday life to designate the totality of outstanding personalities, but can also neutrally mean the extent of individual public awareness, however acquired, and then be applied not only to people but also, for example, to places. The word has only come into use in German since the beginning of the 20th century and is an equivalent to the literally equivalent term Eminenz, which is traditionally restricted to addressing high Catholic dignitaries.
Celebrities, or colloquially celebrities [ˈprɔmɪs], celebrities or also VIPs (English abbreviation for Very Important Person) are mainly those people who are known for their public appearances. Celebrities are often actors, musicians and other entertainers who are frequently reported on in the press or on television. Politicians or athletes can also be prominent. In recent organizational theory and management research, it is assumed that CEOs of large companies also achieve widespread public notoriety. In addition to individual celebrity, collective celebrity is now also being researched, in that it is assumed that entire companies can become prominent.