iconic

adjective

icon·​ic ī-ˈkä-nik 

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

iconically

ī-ˈkä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

The iconic Lone Ranger, for example, was traditionally portrayed by white actors, despite the character being based on Bass Reeves, a former slave who became one of the most successful deputy marshals in the American West. —Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Andres worked at el Bulli, the iconic former restaurant in Roses, Catalonia, led by Ferran Adrià, from 1988 to 1990. —Erin Clements, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Sources tell Deadline that the studio is developing a feature adaptation of Sega’s iconic arcade video game OutRun, with Michael Bay attached to direct and Sydney Sweeney aboard to produce. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025

The studio released an explosive first look of Mukerji in her iconic role while confirming a strategic release date that promises thematic resonance. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin īconicus "of a likeness or image," borrowed from Greek eikonikós "(of a statue) in the likeness (of someone)" (Late Greek, "pertaining to or employing images, representative, symbolic"), from eikon-, eikṓn "image, likeness" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at icon

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for iconic

• atonic
• benthonic
• bionic
• bosonic
• bubonic
• canonic
• carbonic
• cyclonic
• demonic
• dystonic
• hadronic
• harmonic