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Definition of emoticon

emoticon

/ɪˈmoʊtɪkɑːn/
e · mo · ti · con
Plural:emoticons
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emoticon Lexical Profile

emoticon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A representation of a facial expression (such as a smile or frown) formed by various combinations of keyboard characters and used in electronic communications to convey the writer's feelings or intended tone.

Example

"He added a winking emoticon at the end of his message to show that he was only joking."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for emoticon

Word Nuance & Usage

An 'emoticon' is constructed from typographic keyboard characters (such as ':-)' or ':-('), whereas an 'emoji' is an actual small digital graphic or pictograph; furthermore, despite their similar appearance, the two words are etymologically unrelated ('emoji' comes from Japanese roots meaning 'picture character').

• Nearby Words

emollient
emory
emote
emoticon
emotion
emotional
emotionality

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 20th century (around 1990) in early online communication as a portmanteau blending 'emotion' and 'icon'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Emoticon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/emoticon
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