token
noun
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Definition of token
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
c : a unit of a cryptocurrency Bitcoin tokens
2 : an outward sign or expression his tears were tokens of his grief
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
: for the same reason
token
adjectiveDefinition of token (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : 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
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Synonyms for token
Synonyms: Noun
commemorative, keepsake, memento, memorial, monument, remembrance, reminder, souvenir
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Examples of token in a Sentence
Noun
please accept this parting gift as a token of our lasting affectionAdjective
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 on the Web: Noun
Several tables in the chapel’s entranceway displayed tokens of McNamara’s life and career. — Chris Kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "Capital Gazette's John McNamara eulogized as exemplary reporter who loved sports, community journalism," 10 July 2018 Shalev presented Kurz with a token of remembrance and appreciation: a facsimile copy of the collection of 99 works of art created by Holocaust victim Carol Deutsch for his daughter, depicting scenes from the Bible. — Yossi Lempkowicz, Jewish Journal, "Austrian leader visits Yad Vashem, Western Wall as part of Israel visit," 13 June 2018 So, in preparation of wrangling a pint-sized bridal party of ten, Lubomirski readied his camera and cleverly filled his pockets with no-fail tokens of bribery—pure sugar. — Megan Decker, Harper's BAZAAR, "Alexi Lubomirski Had to Bribe the Royal Bridal Party with Candy to Get the Perfect Shot," 24 May 2018 The attorney general’s office said Browsers Lab used its website to pitch the sale of tokens that would be used to create a new market. — baltimoresun.com, "Maryland Attorney General's office issues cease-and-desist against Windsor Mill firm's initial coin offering," 22 May 2018 Some users may interact with one another through the use of digital tokens, that, similar to bitcoin, can be earned by developers to build up their reputation within the 8base ecosystem. — Rob Wile, miamiherald, "He created two high profile health tech companies. Now he’s focusing on blockchain | Miami Herald," 28 Mar. 2018 By the same token, if Bergé likes you, his approval can make all the difference. — James Mcauley, Town & Country, "Was Pierre Bergé the Most Powerful Man In France?," 8 Sep. 2017 However, Glencoe residents with beach tokens can go to Winnetka’s Maple Hill and Elder beaches on the holiday or pay the $5 residency rate with proof of residency. — Daniel I. Dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "How to celebrate the Fourth of July in Glencoe," 26 June 2018 But as the trustless, decentralized world of digital tokens expands—and Fortune 500 companies, banks, restaurant chains, and even countries (ahem, Venezuela) cautiously wade in—a credibility problem persists. — Erin Griffith, WIRED, "The Dark Side of the Crypto Revolution," 17 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
That's a change from the 3DS, where users could use a fake token to get around a console-level network ban (at least until another ban came down, that is). — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, "Inside Nintendo’s “perfect” method for detecting online Switch piracy," 20 June 2018 Mousa Mostafa Mousa’s last-minute bid was widely considered a token gesture to avoid a one-man race seven years after the uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s three-decade rule. — Bloomberg.com, "Still Mr. 97 Percent, Egypt's El-Sisi Defeats Token Opponent," 2 Apr. 2018 The token—much like a subway token—allows the buyer to get access to a service even if, as is the case with many ICOs, that service hasn’t been built yet. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "SEC Chair Blasts Lawyers Over 'Disturbing' ICOs," 23 Jan. 2018 But such deals would be the type of token understandings that make Putin look conciliatory without committing to much. — Anna Arutunyan, Time, "No Matter What Happens in Helsinki, Putin Has Already Won," 10 July 2018 Cooler heads could have prevailed in 1839, although by the same token, hotter heads could have prevailed at any time since 1802. — Ian Morris, New York Times, "The Opium War and the Humiliation of China," 2 July 2018 Venezuela’s plan for its own cryptocurrency include paying public workers in the digital token and using tax incentives to encourage its use, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg News. — Patricia Laya, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuela Plans Discounts, Tax Deals to Bolster Cryptocurrency," 16 Jan. 2018 As if things couldn't get any worse — this is family game blasphemy! — the thimble might not be the only token to go. — Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "Monopoly Just Got Rid of the Thimble and Now None of the Original Tokens Are Safe," 17 Feb. 2017 In January, the value of an XRP token briefly rose above $3, making a co-founder of the company, Chris Larsen, wealthier than Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg for a short time, and Ripple worth more than most banks in the world. — New York Times, "Here’s Some Cryptocurrency. Now Please Use It.," 1 July 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for token
token
noun
English Language Learners Definition of token
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of token (Entry 2 of 2)
—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
See the full definition for token in the English Language Learners Dictionary
token
noun
\
Kids Definition of token
1 : an outer sign : proof “… you ought to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a seafaring man.”— Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
2 : a piece like a coin that has a special use a bus token
3 : an object used to suggest something that cannot be pictured This ring is a token of my affection.
4 : souvenir
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