iconic

adjective

icon·​ic ī-ˈkä-nik How to pronounce iconic (audio)
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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Multi-function utility knives are one of the most famous and iconic Swiss products, but these are better looking and better quality than the widely available mass-market brands. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 But one of the most iconic depictions of the Revolution, Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware, was actually painted much later, in 1851. Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025 The 25 kilos of drugs were wrapped in packaging featuring the iconic gun-brandishing cartoon character, the Walton County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post, which included images of the cocaine. July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025 Launching in three parts over the month of July is the second and final season of The Sandman, the fantasy series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic graphic novels. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for iconic

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of iconic was in 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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