status symbol

noun

1. an object, habit, etc., by which the social or economic status of the possessor may be judged.

status symbol

noun

1. a possession which is regarded as proof of the owner's social position, wealth, prestige, etc

Idioms and Phrases

A position or activity that allows one's social prestige to be displayed, as in She doesn't even drive; that car of hers is purely a status symbol. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

A sort of status symbol among diners who want to prove they can not only pronounce bouillabaisse, but also know what’ s in it.

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As the rich pour money into their luxurious lifestyle, art has become both a status symbol and an investment.

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“Marriage has become a status symbol,” said Krista Westrick-Payne, assistant director of the National Center for Marriage & Family Research.

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What felt absurd in 2013 looks uncannily familiar now: the obsession with purity, the conflation of wellness with luxury, the belief that food is never just food but a lifestyle choice, a status symbol, a moral performance.

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The turtles have unique markings on their shells, and are seen as a status symbol in China where they are often kept as pets.

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