1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an icon
2
a
: widely recognized and well-established
an iconic brand name
b
: widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
an iconic writer
a region's iconic wines
Did you know?
The original meaning of iconic was essentially "resembling an icon," but today it often describes what is so admired that it could be the subject of an icon. And with that use, iconic has become part of the language of advertising and publicity: companies and magazines and TV hosts encourage us to think of some consumer item or pop star or show as first-rate or immortal or flawless—absolutely "iconic"—when that person or thing is actually simply widely known and—they assert—distinctively excellent.
Examples of iconic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of the movie's most iconic moments — including the inclusion of the band Gwar and the scene were Tunney shaves her head — were ideas the cast had.
—
Victoria Edel, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
The metallic colorways are especially iconic, featuring a range of silver and gold gradients.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Archive photographs of Hallmark Cards, Inc. reveals the evolution of one of Kansas City’s most iconic companies.
—Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2025
One of the most iconic nicknames in all of sports, Amen Corner refers to three successive holes on the picturesque 18-hole course.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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