Iconic
/aɪˈkɒn.ɪk/noun
Widely recognized and representative of a person, thing, or era.
Did you know?Its deepest ancestor is Greek eikōn, the same root behind religious icons, so the word originally lived in the world of sacred images and holy representation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
eikōn
“an image, likeness, or portrait, especially a sacred image”
Late Greek
Greek
eikōnikos
“pertaining to images or likenesses”
Late Latin
Latin
iconicus
“of or relating to images”
16th Century
English
iconic
“pertaining to an image or icon”
20th Century
English
iconic
“widely recognized as emblematic or representative”
Explore more surprising origins