iconic

American  

[ahy-kon-ik] / aɪˈkɒn ɪk /

Also iconical

adjective

1. widely considered to epitomize an era, culture, community, place, etc.; representative.

   The iconic figure of punk rock reunited with her bandmates for a final performance.

   We boarded one of London’s iconic double-decker buses.

2. celebrated, revered, or idolized.

   The cheesesteak has iconic status in Philly.

   She's worn some of the most iconic gowns ever to grace the red carpet.

3. Eastern Church. of or relating to a representation of some sacred personage or event, such as Christ or a saint or the Resurrection, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated for its subject.

4. Art. (of statues, portraits, etc.) executed according to a convention or tradition.

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iconic British  

/ aɪˈkɒnɪk /

adjective

1. relating to, resembling, or having the character of an icon

2. (of memorial sculptures, esp those depicting athletes of ancient Greece) having a fixed conventional style

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Usage

What does iconic mean? If something or someone is considered iconic, they're very influential, recognizable, and revered, e.g., Rembrandt is an iconic painter.

Other Word Forms

• iconically adverb
• iconicity noun

Etymology

Origin of iconic

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin īconicus, from Greek eikonikós, from eikon- (stem of eikṓn ) icon + -ikos -ic

Explanation

Something that is iconic is characteristic of an icon — an image, emblem, idol, or hero. Audrey Hepburn was widely admired for her iconic style, her great fashion taste. Iconic often describes something or someone that is considered symbolic of something else, like spirituality, virtue, or evil and corruption. The iconic Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom. Michelangelo's iconic statue of David was supposed to represent anatomical perfection. In Christianity, the Virgin Mary is an iconic image of purity and closeness to God.

Example Sentences

Hollywood was clad in black and glittering sequins on Monday to host the Los Angeles premiere of Michael Jackson's biopic, drawing fans of the King of Pop to the iconic California boulevard.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Citrus was “the profession that drove the state, was the iconic state industry,” Hutchcraft said.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Dolomite is a widespread mineral found in iconic locations such as the Dolomite mountains in Italy, Niagara Falls and Utah's Hoodoos.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

The iconic and disputed creator of the French dip sandwich is slated to shutter March 29 after eight months of closure extensions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin solve the three-dimensional structure of DNA, producing the iconic image of the double helix.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• archetypal
• epochal
• exemplary