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.

---

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

---

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

Barry Keoghan is playing Starr and has been spotted around town with an iconic Beatles-style mop top hairstyle.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

“California’s state parks are nothing short of iconic — with locations like Big Sur, Southern California beaches and the world’s tallest trees — but our state has even more to offer,” Crowfoot said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

An Alabama-born engineer seen as a supply-chain savant, Tim Cook took on the daunting challenge of succeeding Apple's iconic boss Steve Jobs 15 years ago.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Kathy Costas, a financial adviser at EP Wealth Advisors in the Los Angeles area, once had a client who battled over a leg-shaped lamp like the iconic one in the movie “A Christmas Story.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

It stayed there for years, second shelf of the medicine cabinet—milky-white bottle with the iconic line drawing of a sailing ship, a totem of our exotic visitor.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• archetypal
• epochal
• exemplary