| an object, habit, etc., by which the social or economic status of the possessor may be judged. |
| status symbol n. Something, such as a possession or an activity, by which one's social or economic prestige is measured. |
status symbol
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]