status symbol

American  

noun

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

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status symbol British  

noun

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

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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]

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Example Sentences

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

A viral video claims the $130 Costco executive membership is the new VIP status symbol — but is the rewards program actually worth the price?

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

My car wasn't a top-of-the range status symbol.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

It’s a backdrop for $1,000 waterproof jackets with a dinosaur-fossil logo that have become a status symbol for finance bros and streetwear enthusiasts in Shanghai, London and New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

I certainly wasn’t seeking any degree, the way a college confers a status symbol upon its students.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey