iconic

adjective

icon·​ic ī-ˈkä-nik 

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

iconically

ī-ˈkä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

When Salomon rebuilt the Stance 96 last year, the iconic French brand redirected its focus toward off-piste freeride terrain with astonishing success. —Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024

Warren Buffett’s iconic investment and holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, is shedding its stake in Apple, bite by byte, and building an enormous cash pile — $325 billion at the moment. —Peter Green, Quartz, 10 Nov. 2024

Best Gift for Moms Lismore Christmas Bauble Ornament $200.00 Buy Now Lismore, the most iconic and distinguished of the Waterford patterns, is carefully cut into this crystal bauble ornament. —Chloe Castleberry, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2024

In Hart Plaza where Walz spoke trees were lit up in blue and red and iconic downtown Detroit buildings were aglow on a drizzly night as the vice presidential contender looked out at his supporters at the edge of the Detroit River. —Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin īconicus "of a likeness or image," borrowed from Greek eikonikós "(of a statue) in the likeness (of someone)" (Late Greek, "pertaining to or employing images, representative, symbolic"), from eikon-, eikṓn "image, likeness" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at icon

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1