status symbol

noun

an object, habit, etc., by which the social or economic status of the possessor may be judged.

status symbol

noun

a possession which is regarded as proof of the owner's social position, wealth, prestige, etc

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Idioms and Phrases

A position or activity that allows one's social prestige to be displayed, as in She doesn't even drive; that car of hers is purely a status symbol . [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

With the Apple Watch, it is plunging into a market where the main product is—and almost always has been—a fashion-y status symbol.

From The Daily Beast

Like blood ivory, some see it as a status symbol due to its perceived prestige and ballooned financial value.

From The Daily Beast

In the Middle East, a cheetah riding shotgun in the plush leather seat of a luxury sports car is the ultimate status symbol.

From The Daily Beast

Iris (name has been changed) has become one such “status symbol.”

From The Daily Beast

A tapestry like this was the ultimate luxury good and status symbol, worth so much more than a measly painting.

From The Daily Beast

Automobiles were owned by the government only, and bicycles, a status symbol, were available to only a few.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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