Emoji dictionary

👌 Ok Hand emoji

[oh-key hand ih-moh-jee]

What does   Ok Hand emoji mean?

The OK hand emoji has a range of meanings: It can stand in for the word OK, (or the OK hand gesture) communicate strong approval, mark sarcasm, or combine with other emoji to represent sex.

Important context: While the OK hand emoji 👌 has many harmless meanings, it was co-opted as a white supremacist symbol in the late 2010s. One should now be mindful of context when using or coming across this emoji.

Related words

👬 Two Men Holding Hands emoji, 🙏 Folded Hands emoji, white privilege, Moon Man

Where does 👌 Ok Hand emoji come from?

Emoji Island

The OK hand emoji is also referred to as the A-OK, OK, or OK hand sign emoji.

Like the word OK, the OK hand emoji can convey simple agreement, understanding, or satisfaction. If someone texts a friend asking if they want to meet up, the friend might reply with the OK hand emoji as if to say “OK,” “Sure,” or “Sounds good.” In these contexts, the OK hand emoji can stand in for the word OK or related terms.

The OK hand emoji, however, is often used to express that something is perfect, excellent, just right, choice, or on point.

The emoji can also mark sarcasm, like an ironic “Good job” or “Way to go.” For instance: “Just spent all night writing a term paper. Forget to hit save.  - OK hand emoji - OK hand emoji.” As with other emoji, strings of OK hands can intensify or emphasize the sentiment.

Beginning in 2017, the “OK” hand gesture began to be interpreted as a white supremacist hand signal due to a hoax spread by alt-right communities and users of the web site 4chan that the symbol was actually a secret white supremacist gesture. At first used to troll the media, the gesture eventually lost its satiric intent and was used sincerely by white supremacists to promote racist views. The hijacking of the gesture was so widespread that the Anti-Defamation League added it as a hate symbol in 2019.  

Examples of 👌 Ok Hand emoji

Fate of the Furious is  - OK hand emoji - OK hand emoji. every sequel just keeps getting better and better.
@janine_tugonon, May, 2017
Two years and you couldn't even have the decency to acknowledge me. That's real nice.  - OK hand emoji
@Lost_Confused_, April, 2015
found a sketchy pdf of the previous edition of my anatomy textbook online  - OK hand emoji - OK hand emoji - OK hand emoji
sapphicscience, Tumblr, August, 2015
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Who uses 👌 Ok Hand emoji?

The OK hand gesture doesn’t have a universal meaning. In Brazil, Greece, Spain, and some Middle Eastern countries, the OK gesture can be seen as obscene. In France, the gesture can mean “worthless.” Those in the many cultures where the OK hand gesture is positive should be mindful of using the OK hand emoji in cross-cultural contexts.

The OK hand emoji can be combined with other emoji to communicate sexual meanings. Preceded by backhand index point right emoji, the OK hand emoji can suggest sexual intercourse:  - backhand index pointing right emoji - OK hand emoji.

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Note

This is not meant to be a formal definition of 👌 Ok Hand emoji like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of 👌 Ok Hand emoji that will help our users expand their word mastery.