status symbol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to Informal
Quick answer
What does “status symbol” mean?
A possession or attribute that is taken to indicate a person's high social or economic standing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A possession or attribute that is taken to indicate a person's high social or economic standing.
Any object, practice, or trait that is used primarily to signal wealth, power, prestige, or membership in a desirable group within a particular culture or society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core term. Specific items considered status symbols may vary (e.g., specific car brands, private school affiliations).
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a neutral, descriptive connotation or a slightly negative, critical one, implying materialism or conspicuous consumption.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “status symbol” in a Sentence
[Something] is a status symbol[Something] serves as a status symbol for [group][People] use [something] as a status symbolVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “status symbol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new model is heavily status-symbolised among young professionals.
- They status-symbol their wealth through holiday homes.
American English
- He's always status-symboling with his latest tech gadget.
- The brand has become status-symboled in that community.
adverb
British English
- He parked his car status-symbolically right in front of the restaurant.
American English
- She dressed status-symbolically for the gala, wearing only designer labels.
adjective
British English
- She made a status-symbol purchase of a luxury handbag.
- It's a very status-symbol watch.
American English
- That's a real status-symbol car in this neighborhood.
- He has a status-symbol office on the top floor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing and consumer behaviour analysis to describe products that are purchased primarily for their social signaling value.
Academic
Common in sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies when discussing social stratification, consumerism, and symbolic capital.
Everyday
Used to describe expensive cars, designer clothes, luxury watches, exclusive club memberships, or even certain job titles.
Technical
Used in semiotics as a type of sign where the signifier (the object) represents social status (the signified).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “status symbol”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “status symbol”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “status symbol”
- Using 'status symbol' to refer to any expensive item without the social signaling component (e.g., a very expensive but obscure industrial tool). Confusing it with 'status' alone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While often expensive, a status symbol can be something like a rare skill, access to exclusive information, or a minimalist lifestyle in certain contexts, as long as it signals desirable social standing.
All status symbols are luxury goods in a broad sense, but not all luxury goods are status symbols. A luxury good is defined by high quality and price. It becomes a status symbol when its primary function is recognized social signaling within a group.
Yes, it is often used in a slightly pejorative or critical way to highlight materialism, vanity, or shallow values, e.g., 'He's only interested in status symbols.'
No, the core concept is universal, but the specific objects or traits that serve as status symbols vary dramatically between cultures, subcultures, and historical periods.
A possession or attribute that is taken to indicate a person's high social or economic standing.
Status symbol is usually formal to informal in register.
Status symbol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪtəs ˌsɪmbəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstætəs ˌsɪmbəl/ ˈsteɪtəs ˌsɪmbəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keeping up with the Joneses (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the STATue of a wealthy person holding a SYMBOL of their wealth, like a golden key or a luxury car.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSIONS ARE SOCIAL RANKING MARKERS, WEALTH IS VISIBILITY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'status symbol'?