I find this to be a tough one, as celebrities are often public figures, but public figures don't need to be celebrities. Anyone who works in a "public" kind of job, or has some name in public interest beyond the norm, could, I suppose, be a "public figure." I want to know if there's any clear, canonical, distinct meaning that can draw the line between a celebrity and a public figure. I ask because there are quite a few problems here that could be addressed between the two:
1."Celebrity" doesn't always mean super-famous. A handful of people in the entertainment industry may be considered "big stars" or synonymous with "celebrity," but the reality is that being a "celebrity" could be a far-reach from just being a small public figure, in which case most actors are. Unfortunately, almost all actors are "public figures" at best — very, very few are "big stars" or household names to most; therefore, "celebrity" could be used in place of just "public figure."
2.In politics and sports, only the absolute best on the biggest leagues are considered quote-on-quote "celebrities." Most pro athletes without outstanding careers in big leagues are rarely called "celebrities" — more so, they might just be "public figures" because they work in a public job that involves media, spectators, etc. Working in a public job, however, doesn't guarantee "celebrity."
3.There is also the subjective nature of "notoriety." According to Wikipedia, "notoriety" can be very easy to get — however, there's a difference between being "Wiki notable" and actually being popular. I'd imagine that very few Wikipedia articles on living people are household names.
In short, being on Wikipedia doesn't mean being famous — just being "somewhat notable."
Ultimately, what makes a clearer distinction between the words "public figure" and "celebrity" or "famous?" Many people use them all synonymously, but the reality is that they aren't all equal.
For example, I know a guy who states that he is a public figure because he "has a name" (he's an entrepreneur and inventor) — however, he doesn't consider himself a "real celebrity" because he is rarely a household name and the massively majority of people would not know who he is — but his presence in social media and work, website, and businesses all mean he has a public presence and job beyond the norm of publicity; this is what he considers "public figure" to mean.
Best Answer
People do not use these synonymously.
No one says 'public figure' at all except as a legal term, especially for those extended fewer privacy protections. It essentially means 'someone who has put themselves out there' and is thus fair game for public attacks. The precise definition varies by jurisdiction, though.
Celebrity is now the agent noun of famous, much moreso than its original sense of someone who is celebrated. Its synonym, though, is the noun phrase famous person, not the adjective famous.