token

1. 1.

   an individual instance of a type of symbol

   “the word `error' contains three tokens of `r'”

   Synonymsitem

   Broadersymbol

   Narrowerpostagetrading stamp
2. 2.

   something serving as a sign of something else

   Broadersign
3. 3.

   a metal or plastic disk that can be redeemed or used in designated slot machines

   Broaderdisk

   Narrowersubway token
4. 4.

   something of sentimental value

   Synonymskeepsakesouvenirrelic

   Broaderobject

   Narrowerlove-tokenparty favor

1. 1.

   insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)

   “the fee was nominal”

   “a token gesture of resistance”

   “a tokenish gesture”

   Synonymsnominaltokenish

   Similarminimal

Other forms of token

plural

tokens·

Forms marked · are formed by the regular rule rather than recorded in the source data. English keeps a few hundred irregulars and the rest follow the pattern, so the rule is right far more often than not — but it is a rule, and the mark says so.

Questions about token

What does token mean?

token means "an individual instance of a type of symbol". That is the primary sense; the word has 5 in total, listed in full on this page.

How many syllables are in token?

token has 2 syllables: to-ken. The stress falls on "to". In IPA it is /ˈtoʊkən/.

What is another word for token?

Close synonyms include item, keepsake, souvenir, relic, nominal. Each sense on this page lists its own synonyms, because a word with several meanings rarely has one substitute that works for all of them.

Is token a common word?

token is banded "Common" — everyday vocabulary in speech and writing. The band comes from how often the word appears in a large corpus of everyday English, not from an editor's impression.