signifier

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Kafka died of tuberculosis in 1924 at age 40, he was virtually unknown; by the late 1930s he was an international phenomenon, his surname a signifier of bureaucratic inhumanity and modern unease.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

A statement from trust said it had already implemented a programme of "signifier change".

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Connolly is a fluent speaker and booster of the Irish language, which became a surprisingly important signifier in the race, as Humphreys “has no Irish,” to use the vernacular.

From Salon • Oct. 28, 2025

It’s a reminder that De Niro’s presence — as an actor and signifier of the gangster movie — looms so large that only he could play the iconic roles of Costello and Genovese.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025

With every step on those cracked sidewalks, I passed a new signifier of urban decay.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore