status symbol

American  

noun

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

---

status symbol British  

noun

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

---

status symbol Idioms  

1. 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

“I don’t have a pair, so I’m not important enough,” Mato confessed, seeming to confirm that Florsheims have become something of a status symbol inside the administration.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

For Counterpoint analyst Yang Wang, the iPhone is the most successful consumer electronics product ever, reshaping human communication while becoming "a global fashion and status symbol."

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

“The shiny, soft yet strong, luxurious material has been a status symbol for more than 2,000 years.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

The BMF may be a symbolic title but it has turned into a status symbol for the UFC's most exciting fighters.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Besides the practical value of someone to cook and clean, owning servants was a status symbol an ambitious young attorney needed to impress neighbors and legal clients.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis