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emoji

[ ih-moh-jee ]

/ ɪˈmoʊ dʒi /

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noun, plural e·mo·ji, e·mo·jis.

Digital Technology. a small digital picture or pictorial symbol that represents a thing, feeling, concept, etc., used in text messages and other electronic communications and usually part of a standardized set: She texted me an emoji of “money with wings,” which probably means she’s out shopping.

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VIDEO FOR EMOJI

It Matters Which Way Your Emoji Gun Faces

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QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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Compare emoticon, kaomoji.

Origin of emoji

First recorded in 1990–95; from Japanese: literally, “pictograph,” equivalent to e “picture, drawing” + moji “(written) character, letter”; cf. kaomoji

Words nearby emoji

Emmett, Emmy, Emmylou, emo, emocore, emoji, emollient, emolument, Emory, Emory oak, emote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use emoji in a sentence

When he never returned, though, his relatives began to doubt that he’d actually sent the texts, which were full of punctuation and emoji that the 58-year-old Indianapolis man had never used before.
An Indiana man never returned from a hunting trip. Strange texts and emojis led police to his son.|Katie Shepherd|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
He said he was “deep in losses but holding will prevail,” and included the emoji for a rocket and “diamond hands,” the forum’s lingo for not selling when a stock nose-dives.
As GameStop stock crumbles, newbie traders reckon with heavy losses|Drew Harwell|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
This sends notifications to a friend’s phone if they’re off the app, or a flood of colorful emoji if they have the app open.
Honk introduces a real-time, ephemeral messaging app aimed at Gen Z|Sarah Perez|December 23, 2020|TechCrunch
Not only was the mask emoji among the most used, but masks were also an essential part of Tinder bios in India between January and November.
“Let’s be like Covid and catch each other”: How Indians romanced on Tinder this year|Manavi Kapur|December 9, 2020|Quartz

There are new one-time permission approvals for the microphone, camera, and location, new emojis, more work toward modularity, and easier autofill.
Samsung finally starts its Android 11 rollout, three months after release|Ron Amadeo|December 4, 2020|Ars Technica
I can say that this is my first time [using emoji] in an email.
Mark Udall Makes Senate History With an Emoji|Olivia Nuzzi|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Harris explained to The Daily Beast that he and Senator Udall do not communicate with one another via emoji.
Mark Udall Makes Senate History With an Emoji|Olivia Nuzzi|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As to whether or not Udall himself uses Emoji, Harris said that he does not.
Mark Udall Makes Senate History With an Emoji|Olivia Nuzzi|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Katy Perry, "Roar" This video has been anticipated ever since the release of the emoji-filled lyrics.
From Katy Perry to Alice in Chains, the Best Music Videos of the Week|Victoria Kezra|September 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST