Icon — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈī-ˌkän/

Meaning & Definition of Icon

Icon (noun)

  1. a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere
  2. emblem, symbol
  3. a graphic symbol on a computer display screen that represents an app, an object (such as a file), or a function (such as the command to save)

Icon (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion

    "Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture"

    similar: god, hero, idol
    related: beau ideal, classic, exemplar, ideal, model, nonpareil, paragon

  2. a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader

    "the player's remote control is very user-friendly as it doesn't use any icons that you haven't seen a million times before"

    similar: character, glyph, sign, symbol
    related: cipher, letter, numeral, hieroglyph, ideogram, pictogram, pictograph, rune

  3. a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)

    "cites Marlene Dietrich as an icon of old-time Hollywood glamour"

    similar: abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, epitome, externalization, genius, image, incarnation, incorporation, instantiation, manifestation, objectification, personification, personifier
    related: actualization, concretization, exemplification, personalization, realization, substantiation, essence, quintessence, soul, archetype, exemplar, model, paradigm, pattern, reincarnation

  4. a person who is widely known and usually much talked about

    "a sports bar filled with photos of icons from football, basketball, and baseball"

    similar: cause célèbre, celeb, celebrity, figure, light, luminary, megastar, name, notability, notable, notoriety, personage, personality, somebody, standout, star, superstar, VIP
    related: favorite, heartthrob, hero, idol, demigod, dignitary, eminence, immortal, monument, pillar, worthy, baron, big shot, bigwig, kahuna, magnate, mogul, nabob, panjandrum
    opposite: nobody, noncelebrity
    near: lightweight, mediocrity, has-been

  5. a two dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing

    "any icon of the Deity is regarded as blasphemous by adherents of that religion"

    similar: illustration, image, likeness, picture
    related: delineation, depiction, representation, resemblance, view, portrait, daub, drawing, finger painting, etching, silhouette, sketch, watercolor, caricature, cartoon, doodle, collage, montage, photograph, hieroglyph, hieroglyphic, ideogram, ideograph, pictograph, diagram

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Icon

The most common words with a similar meaning to Icon:

god, hero, idol, character, glyph, sign, symbol, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, epitome, externalization, genius, image, incarnation, incorporation, instantiation, manifestation, objectification, personification, personifier, cause célèbre, celeb, celebrity, figure, light, luminary, megastar, name, notability, notable, notoriety, personage, personality, somebody, standout, star, superstar, VIP

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Icon

Words with the opposite meaning of Icon:

nobody, noncelebrity

Related Words for Icon

beau ideal, classic, exemplar, ideal, model, nonpareil, paragon, cipher, letter, numeral, hieroglyph, ideogram, pictogram, pictograph, rune, actualization, concretization, exemplification, personalization, realization, substantiation, essence, quintessence, soul, archetype, paradigm, pattern, reincarnation, favorite, heartthrob

Near Antonyms of Icon

lightweight, mediocrity, has-been

Word Forms of Icon

Inflections: icons, ikons

Origin & Etymology of Icon

borrowed from Late Latin īcon-, īcōn "image," borrowed from Greek eikon-, eikṓn "representation, image, likeness," derivative from *u̯eik-, the base of the reduplicated perfect éoika "(I) am like, look like, resemble" (Attic infinitive eikénai), of uncertain origin; (sense 4) borrowed from Late Greek eikṓn, going back to Greek

First known use: 1572

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Icon

Words & Phrases Containing Icon

icon-

Frequently Asked Questions about Icon

What does "Icon" mean?

"Icon" means a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere. As a noun, it is defined as: a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Icon"?

Other words for "Icon" include god, hero, idol, character, glyph, sign, symbol and abstract. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Icon" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Icon"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Icon". Common alternatives include god, hero, idol, character, glyph, sign, symbol, abstract, avatar and embodier.

What is the opposite of "Icon"?

Antonyms of "Icon" include nobody and noncelebrity. Near antonyms include lightweight, mediocrity and has-been.

How do you use "Icon" in a sentence?

Examples of "Icon" in a sentence: "Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture"; "the player's remote control is very user-friendly as it doesn't use any icons that you haven't seen a million times before"; "cites Marlene Dietrich as an icon of old-time Hollywood glamour".

Is "Icon" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Icon" is a noun.

Is "Icon" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Icon" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Icon"?

"Icon" is pronounced /ˈī-ˌkän/.