iconic

adjective icon·ic \ ī-ˈkä-nik \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of iconic

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

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iconically

play \ī-ˈkä-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of iconic from the Web

The last two remaining Blockbuster stores in Alaska are slated to close next week, leaving just one location of the once-iconic video rental store left in the U.S.

— abigail abrams, Time, "There Will Only Be 1 Blockbuster in America Soon," 12 July 2018
Fort Lauderdale has endorsed a developer’s plans to renovate the Pier 66 Hotel, one of South Florida’s iconic buildings.

— meryl kornfield, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Pier 66 plans hotel renovation as first step toward new development," 11 July 2018
Ariana Grande's boyfriend Pete Davidson has gotten tattooed her initials and her iconic 'Dangerous Woman' bunny ears.

— samantha sasso, refinery29.com, "Tattoos Unlock The Mystery Of Ariana Grande & Pete Davidson's Relationship," 9 July 2018
Work continues, meanwhile, on the iconic red-and-white buildings, which date from the time of World War I: restoring a few, stabilizing foundations under others, and letting some slide into oblivion.

— tom kizzia, Anchorage Daily News, "Amid the ruins of the Kennecott mine, a quiet new look at a unique slice of history," 26 June 2018
The City Council on Monday will consider a lease agreement with the Downtown Arts District, moving the nonprofit’s headquarters to the iconic green Rogers Kiene building, which Orlando acquired in a donation earlier this year.

— ryan gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Downtown Arts District, CityArts Factory eye move to historic downtown building," 21 June 2018
Many of the pieces are iconic, and yet most of the population would never be able to see them in their original homes.

— kim windyka, Daily Intelligencer, "The 9 Best Offbeat Museums to Visit in Las Vegas," 16 June 2018
What did this talented teen get in return for creating the iconic look?

— josh axelrod and saeed ahmed, CNN, "It's Flag Day. Here are some fun facts about the American flag you may not have known," 14 June 2018
Here are some examples of these designers' iconic looks: Helmut Lang Alyx Vivienne Westwood 6.

— victoria rodriguez, Seventeen, "7 Facts About Lilliya Scarlett, the Lucky AF Hand Model from Shawn Mendes' "Nervous" Music Video," 11 June 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.

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.