token

noun

to·​ken ˈtō-kən 

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

c

: a unit of a cryptocurrency

Bitcoin tokens

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

see also:

by the same token

Synonyms of token

• reminder
• memorial

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of token in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

After pushing employees to find ways to integrate AI into their daily work, corporations are now grappling with the rising costs of all those tokens, and some are limiting which employees can use specific AI tools. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 June 2026

The developers worked out a method of projecting the raw audio signal into the same vectors used for text tokens. —ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026

Tokenized finance refers to using blockchain-style technology to represent financial assets as digital tokens. —Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 June 2026

Past, present, and future versions of the South Park figures—childhood’s tokens, mined and mined again—are made to converge around adulthood’s most representative, most depressing reality. —Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing token

• book token
• by the same token
• hard-times token
• non-fungible token
• token money
• utility token

Rhymes for token

• broken
• oaken
• spoken
• woken
• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• unspoken

Kids Definition

token

noun

to·​ken

ˈtō-kən

1

: an outward sign

2

: something (as an act, gesture, or object) that serves as a sign or symbol

a white flag is a token of surrender

3

a

: souvenir

b

: indication sense 2

this is only a token of what we hope to accomplish

4

: a piece resembling a coin that has a special use

a bus token