Did you know?
The original meaning of iconic was essentially "resembling an icon," but today it often describes what is so admired that it could be the subject of an icon. And with that use, iconic has become part of the language of advertising and publicity: companies and magazines and TV hosts encourage us to think of some consumer item or pop star or show as first-rate or immortal or flawless—absolutely "iconic"—when that person or thing is actually simply widely known and—they assert—distinctively excellent.
Examples of iconic in a Sentence
Molly Higgins, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2024
Oprah Winfrey is crediting Phil Donahue for blazing the trail that led to her own iconic talk show in the wake of the daytime legend’s death over the weekend.
—Michael Ausiello, TVLine, 19 Aug. 2024
My favorite runway show is from Prada, spring 2008, with the beautiful fairy prints by James Jean and the iconic flower heel and Art Nouveau shoes!!!
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2024
With his killer guitar skills and that iconic mop of curly hair, Quinn became an instant fan favorite.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 18 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for iconic 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'iconic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near iconic
Cite this Entry
“Iconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Copy Citation
Share