smiley

¹ American  

[smahy-lee] / ˈsmaɪ li /

noun

plural

smileys

1. a digital icon, a sequence of keyboard symbols, or a handwritten or printed equivalent, that serves to represent a facial expression, as :‐) for a smiling face or ;‐) for a winking face.

2. Usually smile face a drawing of a face consisting of a usually yellow circle with an upturned curve for a smile and two dots for eyes.

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adjective

1. cheerful; smiling.

Smiley ² American  

[smahy-lee] / ˈsmaɪ li /

noun

1. Jane, born 1949, U.S. novelist.

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smiley British  

/ ˈsmaɪlɪ /

adjective

1. given to smiling; cheerful

2. depicting a smile

   a smiley badge

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noun

1. any of a group of symbols depicting a smile, or other facial expression, used in electronic mail

Etymology

Origin of smiley

1985–90

Example Sentences

At January’s conference, robots, including Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, a 6-foot-2-inch automaton weighing in at just under 200 pounds with a digital smiley face, were the stars.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

She was "really smiley and happy," Grace said, thanking everyone for their support.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Yet it’s also made her a darling among tastemakers who might not have caught her in the smiley 2021 Netflix teen comedy “He’s All That.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Making your way to a comfy chair, you notice a smiley face and “Have a nice day!” scrawled in Sharpie across your cup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 20, 2025

I make a smiley face with my mouth.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine