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.
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
- iconically adverb
- iconicity noun
Etymology
Origin of iconic
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin īconicus, from Greek eikonikós, from eikon- (stem of eikṓn ) icon + -ikos -ic
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.
Cornwall's cliffs, moors and sea views have sparked some of Britain's most iconic literature.
From BBC
The four giant cantilever cranes beside the River Clyde are iconic structures.
From BBC
Yoshinobu Yamamoto says nothing has changed since his iconic World Series play, but he has become an essential leader as the Dodgers chase a three-peat.
From Los Angeles Times
About 10 miles south is the sweltering city of Cabimas, an iconic venue in Venezuela’s petroleum narrative.
From Los Angeles Times
The 61-year-old will reprise his iconic role playing Grant Mitchell for a short stint, having briefly returned to Walford a year ago for the show's 40th anniversary.
From BBC
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.
