smiley

¹

[ smahy-lee ]

noun

, plural smil·eys.

1. a digital icon, a sequence of keyboard symbols, or a handwritten or printed equivalent, that serves to represent a facial expression, as :‐) for a smiling face or ;‐) for a winking face. Compare emoticon.
2. Usually smile face. a drawing of a face consisting of a usually yellow circle with an upturned curve for a smile and two dots for eyes.

adjective

1. cheerful; smiling.

Smiley

²

[ smahy-lee ]

noun

1. Jane, born 1949, U.S. novelist.

smiley

/ ˈsmaɪlɪ /

adjective

1. given to smiling; cheerful
2. depicting a smile

   a smiley badge

noun

1. any of a group of symbols depicting a smile, or other facial expression, used in electronic mail

Word History and Origins

Origin of smiley¹

1985–90

Example Sentences

In their wet swimsuits and dripping hair, they castigate her, with a great deal of smiley passive-aggression, for not responding to the group chat.

From Time

The first one came punctuated with a smiley face, as though the dissident were still adding emojis to the blog that started his political career.

From Time

He included an emoji of a smiley face spouting tears of laughter.

From Washington Post

In a guest book outside the door, Greene writes “You’re a traitor,” accompanied by a smiley face.

From Washington Post

That’s totally different from basic smiley face emoji, for example.

From MIT Technology Review

Tavis Smiley, the PBS talk show host and close friend to Cornel West, often credits West with having a “useable intellect.”

From The Daily Beast

Smiley, meanwhile, tried to tamp down fears by comparing the Ebola outbreak to the SARS outbreak of 2003.

From The Daily Beast

Tavis Smiley criticized the media for Ebola fear-mongering, and George Will claimed the virus could spread through the air.

From The Daily Beast

Smiley is a PBS talk show host who has written several previous books about the African-American experience.

From The Daily Beast

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley Lear gave away his kingdom.

From The Daily Beast

It is where the stranger says to Smiley, "I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog."

From Project Gutenberg

And you—why should you be going to expense, and knocking out things that costs money, because Mother Smiley's coming?

From Project Gutenberg

If she could get him to swallow some hot food before Mrs. Smiley came, all might yet be well.

From Project Gutenberg

He was thinking of Miriam Usbech as she was twenty years ago, and of Mrs. Smiley as she appeared at present.

From Project Gutenberg

He was considered to have made his offer, and Mrs. Smiley thereupon formally accepted him.

From Project Gutenberg