emoticon

American  

[ih-moh-ti-kon] / ɪˈmoʊ tɪˌkɒn /

noun

Digital Technology.

• emoticons
  plural

1. a digital icon or a sequence of keyboard symbols that serves to represent a facial expression, as :‐) for a smiling face. Emoticons are used in a digital message or text to convey the writer’s emotions or clarify intent.

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emoticon British  

/ ɪˈməʊtɪˌkɒn /

noun

1. any of several combinations of symbols used in electronic mail and text messaging to indicate the state of mind of the writer, such as :-) to express happiness

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• emoticons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of emoticon

First recorded in 1985–90; emot(ion) + icon

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Compare meaning

How does emoticon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• emoticon vs. emoji

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emoticon emoticons

She eulogizes the emoticon, that conglomeration of punctuation marks that English-language texters used to convey feelings before the arrival in 2010 of the emoji.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Two crucial ones were the < symbol and the number 3, which together made an emoticon heart <3.

From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2023

Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns tweeted in response on Wednesday, using a national flag emoticon for “America.”

From Washington Times ● Aug. 17, 2022

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

Sitting there in just a bathing suit, not really thinking about anything, Cade became curious about the emoticon scar along my spine.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

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

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

The utility of emoticons for tone indication quickly spread off-campus: A few months later, a researcher named James Morris sent a message titled “Communication Breakthrough” to his colleagues at the research lab Xerox Parc.

From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2020

Use emoticons and acronyms only if Dr. Chomsky will get them—and welcome them!

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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