# famous for being famous

> English word · Adjective

## Definitions
1. Having attained celebrity status for no distinguished reason; appearing to generate one's own fame, or well-known only through association with an existing celebrity, as opposed to fame based on achievements, skill, or talent.

## Etymology
The term originates from an analysis of the media-dominated world called The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-events in America (1961), by historian and social theorist Daniel J. Boorstin, in which he defined the celebrity as "a person who is known for his well-knownness".

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/famous-for-being-famous