From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishluminarylu‧mi‧na‧ry /ˈluːmənəri $ -neri/ noun (plural luminaries) [countable] FAMOUSsomeone who is very famous or highly respected for their skill at doing something or their knowledge of a particular subject luminaries of Parisian society
Examples from the Corpus
luminary• No less a luminary than Wilhelm Furtwangler conducted the premiere.• Guests included show business luminaries such as Bob Hope.• Among the guests are many luminaries of Parisian society who might balk at that sort of food.• Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries and the sun.• Further along, a pool of bilious gas pricked by glittering young luminaries.Origin luminary (1400-1500) French luminaire “lamp”, from Latin luminaria “window”, from lumen; → LUMINOUS 