vedette

star performer

noun beh-DET Rare

Origin: From French vedette (sentinel, later leading actor), from Italian vedetta (watchtower), from vedere (to see).

Also means

showgirl

Usage Note

Vedette is a French loanword used in Spanish for a star or headline act in variety theatre, cabaret, or revue — typically a glamorous female performer. It retains French pronunciation in educated speech. In a broader journalistic sense it can mean any person who seeks or occupies the spotlight. The plural is vedettes; gender is treated as feminine for performers.

Examples

"La vedette salió al escenario entre aplausos."

Natural Translation

The star performer came on stage to applause.

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