# pole star

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpəʊl stɑː/

## Definitions
1. The star visible to the naked eye which was in the past, is now, or will be in the future nearest a celestial pole of a planet.
2. A person, principle, or thing which acts as a guide; a guiding light; also, something which attracts much attention; a centre of attention.

## Etymology
From pole (“either of the two points on the Earth’s surface around which it rotates; similar points on any other rotating object”) + star, possibly a calque of Latin stēllam polārem (“the Pole Star”).

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