signifier

noun

sig·​ni·​fi·​er ˈsig-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce signifier (audio)
1
: one that signifies
2
: a symbol, sound, or image (such as a word) that represents an underlying concept or meaning compare signified

Examples of signifier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Weinstock is right to name witches as the supreme goth signifier of 2024. Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024 Café culture The full English isn’t just a cholesterol-raising breakfast dish, but an important signifier of England’s national identity — and a divisive one at that. Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024 And yet, timepieces with tourbillons have, for years, been signifiers of status and success. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024 Indeed, the 33-year-old’s practice spans painting, performance, installation, and film, but central to everything is the act of transformation: of materials, social constructs, cultural signifiers, and, most often, combinations thereof. Emily McDermott, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for signifier 

Word History

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of signifier was in 1532

Dictionary Entries Near signifier

Cite this Entry

“Signifier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signifier. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

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