icon

1 of 2

noun

ˈī-ˌkän 

variants or less commonly ikon

plural icons also ikons

1

: a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere

a civil rights icon

an actor and fashion icon

… Purple Rain, the flick that established Prince as a pop icon and cineaste.

—Robert Christgau and Carola Dibbell

That cultural icon, the Nintendo Game Boy, was released in 1989 …

—Eleanor Flegg

2

: emblem, symbol

Rosie the Riveter, a WWII [World War II] cultural icon with her blue jumpsuit and red bandana, represented the women who went to work at manufacturing hubs across the nation …

—David DeBolt

A single photograph, the photograph of Earth taken from space by William Anders, on Apollo 8, in 1968, served as an icon for the entire environmental movement.

—Jill Lepore

The nation's first President was transformed into an icon, a national symbol whose somewhat forbidding portrait would adorn the dollar bill.

—John J. O'Connor

3

a

: a graphic symbol on a computer display screen that represents an app, an object (such as a file), or a function (such as the command to save)

b

: a sign (such as a word or graphic symbol) whose form suggests its meaning

c

archaic : a usually pictorial representation : image

4

[Late Greek eikōn, from Greek] in Eastern Orthodox Christianity : a representation (as in a mural, a mosaic, or a painting on wood) of sacred events or especially of a sacred individual (such as Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint) used as an object of veneration or a tool for instruction

icon-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or icono-

: image

iconolatry

Synonyms

Noun

• god
• hero
• idol

Examples of icon in a Sentence

Noun

Click on the icon to open your e-mail program.

He has become an icon in the movie business.

a singer who has become a pop icon

The Statue of Liberty has become an American cultural icon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lambert, 40, surprised fans at Stagecoach on Saturday, April 27, by bringing out the country icon during her headlining set. —Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024

The pop icon, who’s been busy with the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, this week, appeared happy to be there with Kelce. —Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2024

Produced by Jerry Douglas, himself a bluegrass icon, the album features Jacobs backed by Grammy-winning jam-grass act the Infamous Stringdusters. —Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2024

Gifford is, of course, a beloved television icon who audiences learned to love during her many years on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024

Take Our Daughters to Work Day began in 1992 in New York City, founded by feminist icon Gloria Steinem as part of the Ms. Foundation. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

Clicking the comments icon takes users straight to the top comment, essentially bypassing the original post. —Mia Sato, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024

Explore See latest videos, charts and news The festivities will kick-off on June 5 with the world premiere of Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, a profile of the life of the fashion designer and cultural icon directed by Tribeca alum Trish Dalton and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024

Split into artists, innovators, titans, leaders, icons, and pioneers, the list highlighted cultural lightning rods and move-makers across industries, with write-ups from their peers highlighting their impact and achievements. —Rivea Ruff, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, from Greek eikōn, from eikenai to resemble

Combining form

Greek eikon-, eikono-, from eikon-, eikōn

First Known Use

Noun

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 3c

Kids Definition

icon

noun

variants also ikon

ˈī-ˌkän

1

: a religious image usually painted on a small wooden panel

2

: emblem sense 1, symbol

3

: a pictorial symbol on a computer screen