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
Join a beginner's class on Playa Blanca, ride the iconic waves of Witches Rock, or join a day-long surf immersion camp.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
After four years exhibiting at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair, the Hong Kong high jewelry firm Forms is making its first appearance at TEFAF New York, the smaller sibling of the iconic Netherlands fair.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Phantasialand, Germany The rare park where the theming is as innovative as the rides, Phantasialand features one iconic ride after another.
—Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
Billy Bias, Whataburger’s Director of Design, shared that the company’s intention with the legacy prototype was to reconnect modern-day Whataburgers and customers with the chain’s iconic branding.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
After four years exhibiting at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair, the Hong Kong high jewelry firm Forms is making its first appearance at TEFAF New York, the smaller sibling of the iconic Netherlands fair.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Phantasialand, Germany The rare park where the theming is as innovative as the rides, Phantasialand features one iconic ride after another.
—Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
Billy Bias, Whataburger’s Director of Design, shared that the company’s intention with the legacy prototype was to reconnect modern-day Whataburgers and customers with the chain’s iconic branding.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for iconic
Cite this Entry
“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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