iconic
adjUK /aɪˈkɒnɪk/ · US /aɪˈkɑnɪk/
Etymology From Late Latin īconicus, from Ancient Greek εἰκονικός (eikonikós). By surface analysis, icon + -ic.
1
Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an icon.
2
Distinctive, characteristic, indicative of identity.
- an iconic move in martial arts
- And although we’ve certainly seen a variety of blue shades — from periwinkle to cobalt and even Dean Cain’s indigo-washed costume from the 1990’s TV show “Lois & Clark” — Superman’s uniform is still instantly recognizable across generations. In fact, there is only one film — Zack Snyder’s 2013 “Man of Steel” — in which Superman does not wear his iconic red belted trunks.2025 February 21, Leah Dolan, “How the Superman ‘S’ became fashion’s favorite logo”, in CNN:
3
Figuratively Famously and distinctively representative of its type.
- For younger musicians, Coltrane’s death became one of those iconic events that stays vividly in the mind.1983, J. K. Chambers, Milestones, New York: Beech Tree Books, →ISBN, page 111:
- She angrily turned, giving me my favorite view, that iconic view of a woman from the rear.1986, John Updike, Roger's Version, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 306:
2 more examples
- In time The Simpsons would, indeed, resort to spoofing such decidedly non-spooktacular fare like E.T and Mr. And Mrs. Smith (both in “Treehouse Of Horror XVIII”) but in 1992 the field was wide-open and the show could cherry-pick the most iconic and beloved fright fare of all time.2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2012:
- "We did look at building a new bridge, but this is an iconic structure," says Network Rail Project Manager Michael Bryan.2020 August 12, Andrew Mourant, “The tide is turning for a Victorian wonder”, in Rail, page 50:
4
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences, Semiotics Representing something; symbolic.
- an iconic gesture in sign language
- A portrait of a person is to a considerable extent iconic, but is not completely so since the painted canvas does not have the texture of the skin, or the capacities for speech and motion, […]1955 [1946], Charles William Morris, Signs, Language, and Behavior, G. Braziller, →ISBN, page 23:
- Derived terms
- homoiconic, iconically, iconicize, iconicness, noniconic, uniconic