token

noun to·ken \ ˈtō-kən \

Updated on: 11 Dec 2017

Definition of token

1 a : a piece resembling a coin issued for use (as for fare on a bus) by a particular group on specified terms

b : a piece resembling a coin issued as money by some person or body other than a de jure government

2 : an outward sign or expression

his tears were tokens of his grief

3 a : symbol, emblem

a white flag is a token of surrender

b : an instance of a linguistic expression

4 a : souvenir, keepsake

b : a small part representing the whole : indication

this is only a token of what we hope to accomplish

c : something given or shown as a guarantee (as of authority, right, or identity)

5 : a member of a group (such as a minority) that is included within a larger group through tokenism; especially : a token employee

6 : a distinguishing feature : characteristic

— by the same token

: for the same reason

See token defined for English-language learners

See token defined for kids

Examples of token in a Sentence

please accept this parting gift as a token of our lasting affection

Recent Examples of token from the Web

Racers get a beer token and a donation to Hurricane Harvey relief.

— sandy guerra-cline, star-telegram, "Looking for things to do? Think beer, films and ... yes, holiday gifts," 1 Nov. 2017
By the same token, today’s style of vegetarianism can sometimes feel caught in the spokes of today's wellness industrial complex wheel—as much about made-for-social media branding as back-to-the-land idealism.

— leah mennies, Bon Appetit, "Moosewood, the Restaurant that Taught Americans to Eat Healthyish, Has a New Cookbook," 26 Sep. 2017
By the same token, that’s why this book earns a place as one of the great contemporary jazz memoirs.

— ted gioia, WSJ, "A Life Played by Ear," 8 Sep. 2017
But unlike a traditional IPO in which buyers get shares, getting behind a startup’s ICO nets virtual tokens -- like mini-cryptocurrencies -- unique to the issuing company or its network.

— justina lee, Bloomberg.com, "Bitcoin Tumbles as PBOC Declares Initial Coin Offerings Illegal," 4 Sep. 2017
Then children can visit Santa and enter a kids-only shop that uses tokens instead of money and includes gift wrapping.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Holiday Traditions," 27 Oct. 2017
As a token of their appreciation, the rich would give the poor food and beer.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "How Trick-or-Treating Became Part of Halloween Tradition," 26 Oct. 2017
Each day thereafter, new MTN tokens will be sold in a DPA at the rate that is the greater of 2,880 MTN per day, or an annual rate equal to 2.0000% of the then outstanding supply per year, providing a predictable supply over time.

— jeff john roberts, Fortune, "Bitcoin Alums Announce New Digital Currency Metronome," 24 Oct. 2017
For the experiment, the ravens were trained to pick a token out of a group of objects, then hold onto the token for fifteen minutes before exchanging it for a treat, reports Anil Ananthaswamy at New Scientist.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Like Humans and Apes, Ravens Can Plan for the Future," 14 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of token

Middle English, from Old English tācen, tācn sign, token; akin to Old High German zeihhan sign, Greek deiknynai to show — more at diction

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

token Synonyms

Synonyms

commemorative, keepsake, memento, monument, remembrance, reminder, souvenir, memorial

Related Words

memorabilia; relic, vestige; cairn, landmark, marker; testimonial, tribute; cenotaph

Synonym Discussion of token

sign, mark, token, note, symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible. sign applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason.

- encouraging signs for the economy

mark suggests something impressed on or inherently characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance.

- a mark of a good upbringing

token applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible.

- this gift is a token of our esteem

note suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic.

- a note of irony in her writing

symptom suggests an outward indication of an internal change or condition.

- rampant crime is a symptom of that city's decay

token

adjective

Definition of token

1 a : representing no more than a symbolic effort : minimal, perfunctory

token resistance

token integration

b : serving or intended to show absence of discrimination

a token female employee

2 : done or given as a token especially in partial fulfillment of an obligation or engagement

a token payment

See token defined for English-language learners

Examples of token in a Sentence

All the people who work there are men except for a couple of token women.
The ad campaign features a few token minorities.

Recent Examples of token from the Web

The price includes a token good for one Deschutes beer and a donation to Hurricane Harvey relief.

— robert philpot, star-telegram, "Just in time for North Texas Beer Week, your 12-pack of events," 27 Oct. 2017
Claiming there isn’t enough money to pay college athletes at least a token wage is a conceit rendered ridiculous by the seven-figure salaries of their coaches and administrators.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Gov. Matt Bevin drops bombshell: 'Pay college athletes' | Tim Sullivan," 5 Oct. 2017
In the end, Movie Beverly is just another Cool Girl, the token feminine presence in a group of boys who seem to do the brunt of the real hero work.

— laura bradley, vanityfair.com, "The New It Is a Compelling Coming-of-Age Story—for the Boys, at Least," 9 Sep. 2017
Investment firm Blockchain Capital raised $10 million in a coin offering earlier this year and structured its token as a security, with an eye on the SEC.

— paul vigna, WSJ, "Digital-Coin Companies Shrug Off SEC Scrutiny," 26 July 2017
Centra charged past these hiccups and began its token sale, got its endorsement from Mr. Mayweather (more on that later) and moved ahead with its plans for a virtual currency debit card.

— nathaniel popper, New York Times, "How Floyd Mayweather Helped Two Young Guys From Miami Get Rich," 27 Oct. 2017
Tension can persist in the absence of ghosts; students coming back from the dead easily and without any paranormal baggage would still have to negotiate the public response to their reduction of death to a token amusement.

— nitin k. ahuja, Slate Magazine, "Why Do We Keep Resurrecting the Cautionary Medical Tale?," 3 Oct. 2017
Fans bought into the GRMTK system for a total value of $2.48 million (or 7,500 Ethereum, the digital base of GRMTK's token system).

— kat bein, Billboard, "Gramatik Celebrates Successful Cryptocurrency Launch, Becomes First Tokenized Artist," 21 Nov. 2017
Rising Complaints Last year, the CFTC sanctioned a different digital token market, Bitfinex, for allowing investors who didn’t meet the $10 million threshold to make margin trades.

— lily katz, Bloomberg.com, "Cryptocurrency Flash Crash Draws Scrutiny From Watchdog," 3 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of token

1915

TOKEN Defined for English Language Learners

token

noun

Definition of token for English Language Learners

: a round piece of metal or plastic that is used instead of money in some machines : an object that looks like a coin and is used in place of a coin
: something that is a symbol of a feeling, event, etc.

token

adjective

Definition of token for English Language Learners

—used to describe something that is done with very little effort and only to give the appearance that an effort is being made
: included in a group only to prevent criticism that people of a particular kind are being unfairly left out