status symbol

American  

noun

1. an object, habit, etc., by which the social or economic status of the possessor may be judged.

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status symbol British  

noun

1. a possession which is regarded as proof of the owner's social position, wealth, prestige, etc

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status symbol Idioms  

1. A position or activity that allows one's social prestige to be displayed, as in She doesn't even drive; that car of hers is purely a status symbol. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

For Counterpoint analyst Yang Wang, the iPhone is the most successful consumer electronics product ever, reshaping human communication while becoming "a global fashion and status symbol."

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

“The shiny, soft yet strong, luxurious material has been a status symbol for more than 2,000 years.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

It’s a backdrop for $1,000 waterproof jackets with a dinosaur-fossil logo that have become a status symbol for finance bros and streetwear enthusiasts in Shanghai, London and New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

A sort of status symbol among diners who want to prove they can not only pronounce bouillabaisse, but also know what’ s in it.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2025

Many white slaveholders, especially in Virginia’s upper-class homes, considered mixed-race people a sort of status symbol, just as some people today think of a flashy car or an expensive new smartphone.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis