iconic
Americanadjective
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widely considered to epitomize an era, culture, community, place, etc.; representative.
The iconic figure of punk rock reunited with her bandmates for a final performance.
We boarded one of London’s iconic double-decker buses.
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celebrated, revered, or idolized.
The cheesesteak has iconic status in Philly.
She's worn some of the most iconic gowns ever to grace the red carpet.
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Eastern Church. of or relating to a representation of some sacred personage or event, such as Christ or a saint or the Resurrection, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated for its subject.
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Art. (of statues, portraits, etc.) executed according to a convention or tradition.
adjective
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relating to, resembling, or having the character of an icon
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(of memorial sculptures, esp those depicting athletes of ancient Greece) having a fixed conventional style
Usage
What does iconic mean? If something or someone is considered iconic, they're very influential, recognizable, and revered, e.g., Rembrandt is an iconic painter.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of iconic
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin īconicus, from Greek eikonikós, from eikon- (stem of eikṓn ) icon + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Something that is iconic is characteristic of an icon — an image, emblem, idol, or hero. Audrey Hepburn was widely admired for her iconic style, her great fashion taste. Iconic often describes something or someone that is considered symbolic of something else, like spirituality, virtue, or evil and corruption. The iconic Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom. Michelangelo's iconic statue of David was supposed to represent anatomical perfection. In Christianity, the Virgin Mary is an iconic image of purity and closeness to God.
Vocabulary lists containing iconic
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Look beyond Madonna on the poster and you’ll see Giorgio Moroder, the iconic Italian composer and “Father of Disco,“on the Friday lineup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
Perhaps the most iconic small business in my hometown of Arlington, Va., was Ayers Hardware, which announced in July that it would be shutting its doors after almost 80 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"Rocky" became a cultural phenomenon and its iconic imagery lives on to this day: the Philadelphia museum steps, the gray sweatsuit, and the unmistakable cry of "Adrian!"
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
In 2018 came one of the most iconic moments of Ronaldo's career, maybe the greatest Champions League goal ever scored.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
His iconic Messiah, though, was uniquely premiered in Dublin - then Britain’s second-largest city - in 1742.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
