signifier
noun
sig·ni·fi·er ˈsig-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r 
1
: one that signifies
2
: a symbol, sound, or image (such as a word) that represents an underlying concept or meaning compare signified
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The outcome of these primary races will be the latest signifier of the GOP's willingness or unwillingness to include voices that don't blindly pledge allegiance to the former commander-in-chief. 
Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2022 To not even receive the dignity of being named upon death felt like a troubling signifier of something larger that is fundamentally broken. Risa Sarachan, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 People who treat clothes as a means of showing superiority, a signifier of wealth, or as a desperate attempt to grab attention don’t come to good ends in the film. Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, 11 July 2022 The Countach’s 12-cylinder powerplant was an important signifier of excess that matched the brand’s outlandish styling and bad boy image. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 The Kardashian-West kids are engaging with the ultimate signifier of public service: a first responder vehicle. Vogue, 19 May 2022 He’s one of several stylish men who recently made pearls their style signifier. Jill Newman, Town & Country, 12 May 2022 What was more important to the Abercrombie essence is that by the late ’90s, the preppy-as-icon had become a signifier of the one percent. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2022 Perhaps the best signifier of the potential of this market is the emergence of companies like Streeth, which is focused exclusively on minting street art NFTs. Suhita Shirodkar, Wired, 31 Jan. 2022 See More
Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2022 To not even receive the dignity of being named upon death felt like a troubling signifier of something larger that is fundamentally broken. Risa Sarachan, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 People who treat clothes as a means of showing superiority, a signifier of wealth, or as a desperate attempt to grab attention don’t come to good ends in the film. Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, 11 July 2022 The Countach’s 12-cylinder powerplant was an important signifier of excess that matched the brand’s outlandish styling and bad boy image. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 The Kardashian-West kids are engaging with the ultimate signifier of public service: a first responder vehicle. Vogue, 19 May 2022 He’s one of several stylish men who recently made pearls their style signifier. Jill Newman, Town & Country, 12 May 2022 What was more important to the Abercrombie essence is that by the late ’90s, the preppy-as-icon had become a signifier of the one percent. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2022 Perhaps the best signifier of the potential of this market is the emergence of companies like Streeth, which is focused exclusively on minting street art NFTs. Suhita Shirodkar, Wired, 31 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1