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
This Week in Words: August 11 - 17, 2018
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This Week in Words: March 3 – 9, 2018
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Camp Panda
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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.
The floods hit the iconic US park's Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area on Saturday afternoon, forcing dozens of people to evacuate and damaging the sole water pipeline serving the area.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
“The White House is an iconic American building whose symbolism and history are wrapped up in its architecture,” he wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
On this iconic train journey through the center of Australia, the country’s most dangerous and unique creatures are turned into a tasty snack.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
She described her as a "brilliant businesswoman, but also an iconic investor and a real example to women about the power of what happens if women are financially independent".
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
“For some iconic species such as the giant panda, conservation successes can also help hundreds of lesser-known species that live alongside them,” says Axel Moehrenschlager of IUCN.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
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.
