1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an icon
2
a
: widely recognized and well-established
an iconic brand name
b
: widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
an iconic writer
a region's iconic wines
Did you know?
The original meaning of iconic was essentially "resembling an icon," but today it often describes what is so admired that it could be the subject of an icon. And with that use, iconic has become part of the language of advertising and publicity: companies and magazines and TV hosts encourage us to think of some consumer item or pop star or show as first-rate or immortal or flawless—absolutely "iconic"—when that person or thing is actually simply widely known and—they assert—distinctively excellent.
Examples of iconic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From viral hits to iconic music legends, the remaining couples will dance through a variety of creative challenges, culminating in the finale.
—
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Tucked between Sedona's iconic red sandstone cliffs and the babbling Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona has long been considered one of Arizona's most inviting retreats.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025
The set was voted best performance of 2024 by the Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs) and celebrated by Brazilians as one of the most iconic moments of the festival’s 20 years.
—Billboard Brazil, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Drew Struzan, the iconic movie poster artist who created the marketing art for an enormous number of popular films, has died at 78.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for iconic
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Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Tucked between Sedona's iconic red sandstone cliffs and the babbling Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona has long been considered one of Arizona's most inviting retreats.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025
The set was voted best performance of 2024 by the Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs) and celebrated by Brazilians as one of the most iconic moments of the festival’s 20 years.
—Billboard Brazil, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Drew Struzan, the iconic movie poster artist who created the marketing art for an enormous number of popular films, has died at 78.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for iconic
Cite this Entry
“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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