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VIP

VIP

125 3.1
A very important person who gets special treatment
  • noun
  • /viːˈiːˈpiː/
translation icon : persona muy importante
  • The concert featured a VIP area where the most important guests could enjoy the show in comfort.

And when you look at VIP, he's looking at you.

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Examples

Synonyms

dignitary
vsVIP
31 6.9

A person who has an important job in government or the church

is used more broadly beyond government or church roles
top dog
vsVIP
  • Informal
21 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

is important without necessarily being the single highest authority
16 2.5

A person with great power or status who gets special treatment

is the abbreviated short form of that full phrase
high-up
vsVIP
5 7.1

A person with an important job in an organization

is used more generally not only for organizational roles
eminence grise
vsVIP
  • Literature
1 9.9

A person who has a lot of influence behind the scenes without an official role

is more public and often visibly given special attention
panjandrum
vsVIP
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts too proud and tries to seem important

is a neutral term without the insulting or pompous connotation
high muckamuck
vsVIP
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who has an important job that people mention as a joke

is a neutral or formal term without joking or ironic tone
grand poobah
vsVIP
  • Slang
9.9

A joking name for a person who has great power in a group

is a straightforward serious term without mocking or exaggeration

How Important

head of state
  • Formal
49 3.5
dignitary
31 6.9
VIP
125 3.1
notable
5 4.1
famous person
50 1.0

Surface Forms

VIP singular
VIPs plural

Morphology

VIP = very + important + person (semi-transparent) = V + I + P

The abbreviation directly corresponds to the phrase 'very important person', so knowing the components leads to the meaning. [Postprocessing: changed transparency from 'transparent' to 'semi-transparent' for abbreviation]

Etymology

The word VIP comes from the phrase 'Very Important Person', made from the first letters V, I and P. That's why a VIP is someone who gets special treatment and attention.