emoticon
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of emoticon
Compare meaning
How does emoticon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An emoticon is a typed series of characters that resembles a facial expression and expresses some emotion. You might use an emoticon in an email, a text message, or in an explanation of the word emoticon :) . Most emoticons are flipped on their side, like the classic smiley face emoticon, which looks like this: :-) or like this: :) and expresses happiness or playfulness. If you want to send a subtle message like "Just kidding," or "Ha ha," you might use a winking emoticon like this one: ;). Emoticons help lend a specific tone or mood to a message. The word emoticon, a combination of emotion and icon, first appeared in 1994.
Vocabulary lists containing emoticon
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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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.
See Examples For:
Mr. Musk replied on Friday with an emoticon of a bull’s-eye, indicating he thought the user was right on target.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 16, 2022
The line was followed by a winking emoticon.
From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2021
Others had grown suspicious of his emoticon use: one wrote that anyone “who uses the ‘!?’ emoji is totally a middle-aged man.”
From Washington Post ● May 11, 2021
He argued that his use of the tongue-out emoticon “:-P” suggested that he was making statements in jest and not as serious threats.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2019
Like a little happy but somewhat clueless emoticon.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
These included "broligarchy," "Gen Z stare," and an entry from the world of emoticons -- the dynamite emoji.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025
Conversations between the co-defendants on social media showed they had sent emoticons depicting a smiley face and hearts to each other.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
As an added bonus, you can also use the companion app to add text, emoticons, colorful frames, and adjust both color and exposure.
From The Verge ● Aug. 3, 2022
Viewers can subscribe to an individual streamer for $5 to $25 a month and receive digital badges, custom emoticons and other perks.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2022
Consider symbols like “the golden arches” or emoticons and all the information they tell you.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
