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
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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.
She made no secret of her intention to become "iconic" with that unprecedented achievement, completed in Sunday's mixed 4x100m relay.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
"For me personally, it's because in my teens, her music was quite prolific. For me it was her most iconic period, in the 1980s."
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Southwest announced in 2024 that it would end its iconic open seating policy in favor of traditional assigned seats and a premium class option.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean and the iconic Zuma Beach, the 4,000-square-foot main residence offers unobstructed views of the water, which are beautifully framed by floor-to-ceiling windows.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
They planned events featuring Henrietta Lacks look-alikes —a few Turner Station women who’d style their hair like Henrietta’s and wear suits identical to the one she wore in her iconic photo.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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.
