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
Tawnya Van Houten, a fashion designer from California, got together with her siblings to recreate an iconic childhood photo shoot from the early '90s, presenting the snap to her parents, Rick and Debbie, at their anniversary celebrations.
—
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The Kylie Cosmetics founder, 27, stepped out at Chanel’s autumn/winter 2025 haute couture show in Paris, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, wearing an iconic silhouette from the fashion house — with a twist.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
The paragon of the child star, Culkin is the face of so many iconic kids’ movies, from Home Alone to Richie Rich.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 28 Jan. 2025
The cinema posted a petition on its social media accounts calling for help saving the iconic theater, which has been praised by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
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Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The Kylie Cosmetics founder, 27, stepped out at Chanel’s autumn/winter 2025 haute couture show in Paris, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, wearing an iconic silhouette from the fashion house — with a twist.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
The paragon of the child star, Culkin is the face of so many iconic kids’ movies, from Home Alone to Richie Rich.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 28 Jan. 2025
The cinema posted a petition on its social media accounts calling for help saving the iconic theater, which has been praised by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for iconic
Dictionary Entries Near iconic
Cite this Entry
“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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