token

1 of 2

noun

to·​ken ˈtō-kən 

plural tokens

1

a

: a piece resembling a coin issued for use (as for fare on a bus) by a particular group on specified terms

b

: a piece resembling a coin issued as money by some person or body other than a de jure government

c

: a unit of a cryptocurrency

Bitcoin tokens

2

: an outward sign or expression

His tears were tokens of his grief.

3

a

: symbol, emblem

A white flag is a token of surrender.

b

: an instance of a linguistic expression

4

a

: souvenir, keepsake

b

: a small part representing the whole : indication

This is only a token of what we hope to accomplish.

c

: something given or shown as a guarantee (as of authority, right, or identity)

5

: a member of a group (such as a minority) that is included within a larger group through tokenism

especially : a token employee

6

: a distinguishing feature : characteristic

7

computing : the fundamental unit of data that is processed by AI and that is sometimes used as a measure of AI computing or performance

Tokens are the basic units of input and output in a language model.

—Andrius Grybauskas et al.

For large language models (LLMs), short words may be represented with a single token, while longer words may be split into two or more tokens.

—Dave Salvator

… the token, the basic unit used to measure AI computing. Every prompt consumes tokens.

—Matias Civita

Simple applications like text generation use fewer tokens, while coding, video, and image creation use more.

—Shelby Gutleber

see also:

by the same token

token

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: representing no more than a symbolic effort : minimal, perfunctory

token resistance

token integration

b

: serving or intended to show absence of discrimination

a token female employee

2

: done or given as a token especially in partial fulfillment of an obligation or engagement

a token payment

Synonyms of token

Noun

• reminder
• memorial

Choose the Right Synonym for token

sign, mark, token, note, symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible.

sign applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason.

encouraging signs for the economy

mark suggests something impressed on or inherently characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance.

a mark of a good upbringing

token applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible.

this gift is a token of our esteem

note suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic.

a note of irony in her writing

symptom suggests an outward indication of an internal change or condition.

rampant crime is a symptom of that city's decay

Examples of token in a Sentence

Noun

please accept this parting gift as a token of our lasting affection

Adjective

All the people who work there are men except for a couple of token women.

The ad campaign features a few token minorities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This model takes a field of placeholder tokens running over the canvas multiple times to generate likely tokens and using those to improve estimation of others. —ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026

Tickets include seating, food and drink tokens and access to F1 race simulators. —Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Adjective

Because the 2030 edition was scattered across Europe, Africa, and South America (with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay receiving one token game each), 2034 was open to bids from only Asia and Oceania. —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026

The conversation, however, ended up being much more than a recruitment push to bring a token Native voice or two onto the board of a conservation advocacy organization. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English tācen, tācn sign, token; akin to Old High German zeihhan sign, Greek deiknynai to show — more at diction

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing token

• book token
• by the same token
• hard-times token
• non-fungible token
• token money
• utility token

Rhymes for token

• broken
• oaken
• spoken
• woken
• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• unspoken

Kids Definition

token

noun

to·​ken

ˈtō-kən

1

: an outward sign

2

: something (as an act, gesture, or object) that serves as a sign or symbol

a white flag is a token of surrender

3

a

: souvenir

b

: indication sense 2

this is only a token of what we hope to accomplish

4

: a piece resembling a coin that has a special use

a bus token