iconic

iconic — adjective

1. describes someone or something so widely famous and admired that people everywhe

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes someone or something so widely famous and admired that people everywhere link it to a specific period, set of beliefs, or way of living.

例句

The Eiffel Tower is an iconic landmark that people around the world recognise immediately.

collocation: iconic landmark

Kwame's photographs captured iconic moments from the civil rights movement.

collocation: iconic moment

同義詞
  • emblematic

    more formal than iconic; stresses the symbolic role more than the fame

  • legendary

    emphasises extraordinary fame but can lack the representative meaning

  • classic

    focuses on lasting quality and being a standard example, without necessarily being a symbol of a broader idea

  • renowned

    highlights widespread fame but does not carry the symbolic, representative quality

反義詞

文法句型

be + iconic

become + iconic + noun

one of the most iconic + noun + ever + past participle

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns like landmark, symbol, image, moment, figure, or building. The thing described must be widely recognised by many people, not just personally significant to a single individual.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother's ring is iconic to me.
✅My grandmother's ring is very special to me.
💡Iconic requires widespread public recognition, not just personal sentimental value.

2. describes a sign, word, or symbol whose physical form directly resembles or sugg

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a sign, word, or symbol whose physical form directly resembles or suggests its meaning — for instance, a picture of a knife and fork to represent a restaurant.

例句

Road signs often use iconic symbols whose shape matches the action they describe.

collocation: iconic symbol

The heart shape is an iconic sign for love that people understand across cultures.

反義詞
  • arbitrary

    the standard opposite in semiotics; arbitrary signs have no inherent link between form and meaning

  • abstract

    a non-technical opposite; abstract symbols do not visually resemble their meaning

文法句型

iconic + sign / symbol / representation

用法筆記

Subject matter is limited to linguistics, semiotics, or sign systems. The opposite concept is arbitrary — most words in human language have no physical resemblance to what they name.