- a sign, indication, or symbol: a token of one's affection
- something serving as a sign of authority, identity, genuineness, etc.
- a distinguishing mark or feature
- a keepsake
- a sample
- a piece of stamped metal, etc. with a face value higher than its real value, issued as a substitute for currency, for use as fare on a transportation line, etc.
- a person, as an employee, whose presence in a group is supposed to indicate absence of discrimination, as in race
Origin of token
Middle English from Old English tacn, akin to German zeichen from Indo-European base an unverified form dei?-, to point, show from source teach, toe, digit, diction to be a token of; symbolize
- by way of a token, symbol, etc.
- merely simulated; slight or of no real account: token resistance
- of or having to do with tokenism
token Idioms
by the same token
for this reason; following the same line of reasoning
in token of
as evidence of
