iconicity
|i-co-ni-ci-ty|
/ˌaɪkəˈnɪsɪti/
quality of being like an image / resemblance
Etymology
'iconicity' originates from Modern English, specifically from the adjective 'iconic' plus the suffix '-ity', where 'iconic' traces back to Greek 'eikōn' meaning 'image' or 'likeness'.
'iconicity' developed from the adjective 'iconic', which itself came into English via Latin/Old French forms of Greek 'eikōn' (εἰκών) meaning 'image'; 'iconic' (Modern English) + '-ity' produced the noun 'iconicity'.
Initially related to 'image' or 'likeness' in the original Greek sense, the term evolved into Modern English to denote both the property of being icon-like and, in specialist fields such as linguistics, the resemblance-based relation between sign and referent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being iconic; resembling or constituting an icon or image.
The iconicity of the statue made it immediately recognizable to the townspeople.
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Noun 2
in linguistics and semiotics, the resemblance or motivated relation between a sign and its referent (i.e., when a sign resembles what it stands for).
Researchers discussed the iconicity of onomatopoeic words and how sound mirrors meaning.
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Noun 3
the quality of being widely recognized and emblematic within a culture or context (i.e., how much something functions as an icon).
The iconicity of the brand increased after the advertisement campaign.
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Last updated: 2025/11/20 07:49