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
Spain and Italy do the same, while, further afield, Brazil’s Maracana may, like Wembley, be regarded as one of the game’s iconic names but the national team has still played World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Sao Paulo, Cuiaba and Curitiba as well as Rio de Janeiro.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
In the most iconic role of his storied career, Wesley Snipes plays Blade, a badass vampire hunter who also happens to be half-vampire himself.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
The iconic In-N-Out brand is moving east, but Michigan fans still will have to drive eight to nine hours south to grab their favorite burger once the chain's newest restaurants open.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Right now, the colors Cerise and Flame are on sale – a rare deal on this iconic piece.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for iconic
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Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
In the most iconic role of his storied career, Wesley Snipes plays Blade, a badass vampire hunter who also happens to be half-vampire himself.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
The iconic In-N-Out brand is moving east, but Michigan fans still will have to drive eight to nine hours south to grab their favorite burger once the chain's newest restaurants open.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Right now, the colors Cerise and Flame are on sale – a rare deal on this iconic piece.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 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 10 Oct. 2025.
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