noun
emoji
ih-MOH-jee
noun
1
A small digital icon used in texts and online messages to represent an emotion, object, or idea.
"She replied with just a laughing emoji."
"He ended every message with a thumbs-up emoji."
How to Use Emoji
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA little picture or icon, like a smiley face or a heart, used in texting to add tone or feeling.
Common mistake
The word looks like it comes from "emotion," but it doesn't — that link is just a coincidence of sound.
Common pairings
send an emoji
emoji keyboard
a string of emojis
Word Forms
emojis plural, emoji plural
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She replied with just a laughing _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese emoji (絵文字), from e ("picture") + moji ("character"); its resemblance to the English word "emotion" is a coincidence.