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Emoticon

An emoticon is a sequence of keyboard characters or punctuation marks used in digital communication to represent a facial expression or emotion.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

An emoticon is a sequence of keyboard characters or punctuation marks used in digital communication to represent a facial expression or emotion. Commonly used in email, text messages, and online chat, emoticons help convey tone and intent in plain text. The term is a blend of “emotion” and “icon.”

Definition

An emoticon is a textual representation of a facial expression, usually formed from punctuation marks and letters. It is used to communicate emotion or clarify tone in digital writing.

History

The term is widely associated with early computer-mediated communication and became especially notable after use in online contexts in the early 1980s. Later digital communication expanded the use of emoticons across messaging platforms.

Usage

Emoticons are commonly used in informal digital communication such as emails, text messages, forums, and chat. They can indicate friendliness, humour, sarcasm, sadness, or other emotions.

Emoticons and emojis

Emoticons are text-based, while emojis are standardized pictorial symbols. In modern communication, emojis have largely supplemented or replaced many older emoticon styles.

Key facts

  • Emoticons are made from keyboard characters, punctuation, or symbols.
  • They are used to express mood, attitude, or facial expression in written text.
  • A classic emoticon is the sideways smiley face :-) .
  • Emoticons are distinct from emojis, which are pictographic images rather than text characters.
  • The word “emoticon” combines “emotion” and “icon.”
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Canadian context

Emoticons are part of everyday digital communication for Canadian internet users, especially in texting, email, and social media.

Frequently asked questions

What is an emoticon?
A text-based symbol made from keyboard characters that represents a facial expression or emotion.
What does the word emoticon mean?
It is a blend of “emotion” and “icon”.
Where are emoticons used?
They are used in email, text messaging, chat, and other forms of digital communication.
How is an emoticon different from an emoji?
An emoticon is made from text characters, while an emoji is a graphic pictograph.
Why do people use emoticons?
People use them to show tone, mood, or intent and to make plain text feel less ambiguous.

References

  1. Cambridge English Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/emoticon
    Supports: Defines emoticon as an image made from symbols such as punctuation marks used to express emotion.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/emoticon
    Supports: Defines emoticon, explains the emotion+icon etymology, and notes early documented use in 1982.
  3. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emoticons
    Supports: Defines emoticons as keyboard characters representing facial expressions or attitudes in computerized communications.
  4. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/compare-words/emoticon-vs-emoji
    Supports: Explains the distinction between emoticons and emojis and gives examples of emoticon forms.