iconic

adjective

icon·ic | \ ī-ˈkä-nik

Definition of iconic

1 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an icon

2a : 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

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Did You Know?

The original meaning of iconic was essentially "resembling an icon", but today it more often seems to mean "so admired that it could be the subject of an icon". And with that meaning, iconic has become part of the language of advertising and publicity; today companies and magazines and TV hosts are constantly encouraging us to think of some consumer item or pop star or show as first-rate or immortal or flawless—absolutely "iconic"—when he or she or it is actually nothing of the kind.

Examples of iconic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With their latest collection, MAC in Monochrome, the brand has taken six of its most iconic lipstick shades and created a full-face range for each that will make your monochromatic dreams come true. — Roberta Gorin-paracka, Teen Vogue, "MAC Cosmetics Launches MAC in Monochrome Collection," 13 Jan. 2019 Boise State’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma was one of the most iconic games in college football history. — Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times, "Washington’s Rose Bowl loss continues frustrating narrative: Huskies still looking for signature win under Chris Petersen," 1 Jan. 2019 Besides talkshows and primetime news, Ana has also had some fun with Alex Trebek on one of the country's most iconic gameshows. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "What to Know About 'The View' Co-Host Ana Navarro Before Watching the Show Again," 9 Nov. 2018 Celebrity makeup artist was behind this year's beauty look, which was actually inspired by one of the most iconic Angels of all time: Gisele Bündchen. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Backstage Beauty Secrets from This Year's Victoria's Secret Show," 8 Nov. 2018 Eero Saarinen and Associates of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, would go on to design some of the most iconic buildings of postwar American architecture, including the TWA Terminal and St. Louis Arch. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Why Eero Saarinen’s ‘50s office was a breeding ground for modernist design," 8 Nov. 2018 Celebrity Millennium, Constellation, Infinity, and Summit—all feature original wood or glass panels from some of the most iconic ocean liners in history, such as the Normandie and Olympic. — Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 2018 Being the daughter of one of the most iconic composers in American music history has plenty of perks. — Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, "Leonard Bernstein's daughter says pal Lauren Bacall 'was not a shut-in' after Humphrey Bogart's death in new memoir," 13 Sep. 2018 The survey then goes on to include work by some of the most iconic photographers of the 20th century, such as Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Herb Rittz and Corinne Day. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: Shots of old Route 66, dreamlike paintings and garments fashioned from paper," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'iconic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.