iconic

Also i·con·i·cal

[ahy-kon-ik]

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Art.,  (of statues, portraits, etc.) executed according to a convention or tradition.

Other Word Forms

• iconically adverb
• iconicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of iconic¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin īconicus, from Greek eikonikós, from eikon- (stem of eikṓn ) icon + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

“Our experts know that iconic events like Wimbledon, the Kentucky Derby and the Tour de France can be transformed into unforgettable moments when paired with unique culinary experiences,” says Langrand.

Read more on Salon

What is inarguable is that Shepard possessed iconic beauty, whose “imperfections,” such as the crookedness of his teeth, only added to his allure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A reputational crisis is putting the iconic British institution under pressure to prove it has changed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Such scaffolding is an iconic sight across Hong Kong, and widely used in construction.

Read more on BBC

There are photographs from the Vietnam War era that have become as iconic as the flag-raising on Iwo Jima or the inferno aboard the Hindenburg.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• archetypal 
• epochal 
• exemplary 

When To Use

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.