noun
emoticon
ih-MOH-tih-kon
Emoticon (noun) means a small symbol or picture built from text characters or a graphic, used to show feeling in a written message. Example: “She ended the text with a winking emoticon.”
noun
1
A small symbol or picture built from text characters or a graphic, used to show feeling in a written message.
"She ended the text with a winking emoticon."
"Most messaging apps offer a row of emoticons for quick replies."
"He used a sad-face emoticon to show he was disappointed."
How to use emoticon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA face or symbol made from text characters, used to show feeling in a message.
When to use it
An informal word, at home in texts, emails and chat rather than formal writing.
Memory tip
Classic emoticons are built from ordinary punctuation, such as a colon and a bracket for a smiley face.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
use an emoticon
add an emoticon
a smiley emoticon
a winking emoticon
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Fill the gap
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She ended the text with a winking _____.
Etymology
Emoticon is a blend of the words emotion and icon. Despite the overlap in meaning, it is not related in origin to the word emoji.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for emoticon
See all rhymes for emoticon →Frequently asked questions
Is an emoticon the same as an emoji?
Not quite. An emoticon is traditionally built from text characters, while emoji are small pictures, and the two words are not related in origin even though both are used to show feeling.
What does the word emoticon actually mean?
It is a blend of emotion and icon, describing a symbol used to represent a feeling in writing.
Where are emoticons typically used?
They appear in text messages, emails and other electronic communication as a quick way to add emotion to a message.
What is the meaning of emoticon?
"emoticon" (noun) means a small symbol or picture built from text characters or a graphic, used to show feeling in a written message.
