adjective
iconic
eye-KO-nihk
adjective
1
Widely recognised as a symbol or perfect representative example of something.
"The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world."
"That guitar riff is iconic — everyone recognises it instantly."
How to Use Iconic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo famous and distinctive that it represents its whole category.
Common mistake
Overused in casual speech to mean simply "great" or "memorable" — in careful writing, save it for things that genuinely became symbols.
Common pairings
iconic status
iconic image
truly iconic
Word Forms
more iconic comparative, most iconic superlative
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The Eiffel Tower is one of the most _____ landmarks in the world.
Etymology
From Late Latin iconicus, going back to Ancient Greek eikōn ("image"); related to "icon".