You use token to describe things or actions which are small or unimportant, but are meant to show particular intentions or feelings which may not be sincere.
The announcement was widely seen as a token gesture.
Miners have staged a two-hour token stoppage to demand better pay and conditions.
Synonyms: nominal, symbolic, minimal, hollow More Synonyms of token
2. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A token is a piece of paper or card that can be exchanged for goods, either in a particular shop or as part of a special offer.
[British]
...£10 book tokens.
Here is the fifth token towards our offer. You need six of these tokens.
regional note: in AM, use coupon
Synonyms: voucher, coupon, chit, credit note More Synonyms of token
3. countable noun
A token is a round flat piece of metal or plastic that is sometimes used instead of money.
Some of the older telephones still only accept tokens.
4. countable noun
If you give something to a person or do something for them as a tokenof your feelings, you give it or do it as a way of expressing those feelings.
He kept sending gifts and assured her that they were merely small tokens of his appreciation.
As a token of goodwill, I'm going to write another letter. [+ of]
...the custom of exchanging love tokens to celebrate February 14.
5.
See by the same token
More Synonyms of token
token in British English
(ˈtəʊkən)
noun
1.
an indication, warning, or sign of something
2.
a symbol or visible representation of something
3.
something that indicates authority, proof, or authenticity
4.
a metal or plastic disc, such as a substitute for currency for use in slot machines
5.
a memento
6.
a gift voucher that can be used as payment for goods of a specified value
7. (modifier)
as a matter of form only; nominal
a token increase in salary
8. linguistics
a symbol regarded as an individual concrete mark, not as a class of identical symbols
Compare type (sense 11)
9. philosophy
an individual instance: if the same sentence has different truth-values on different occasions of utterance the truth-value may be said to attach to the sentence-token
Compare type (sense 13)
10. by the same token
verb
11. (transitive)
to act or serve as a warning or symbol of; betoken
Word origin
Old English tācen; related to Old Frisian tēken, Old Saxon tēkan, Old High German zeihhan, Old Norse teikn; see teach
token in American English
(ˈtoʊkən)
noun
1.
a sign, indication, or symbol
a token of one's affection
2.
something serving as a sign of authority, identity, genuineness, etc.
3.
a distinguishing mark or feature
4.
a.
a keepsake
b.
a sample
5.
a piece of stamped metal, etc. with a face value higher than its real value, issued as a substitute for currency, for use as fare on a transportation line, etc.
6.
a person, as an employee, whose presence in a group is supposed to indicate absence of discrimination, as in race
verb transitive
7.
to be a token of; symbolize
adjective
8.
by way of a token, symbol, etc.
a token gesture
9.
merely simulated; slight or of no real account
token resistance
10.
serving merely to fill a symbolic role, a quota, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: pledge
Idioms:
by the same token
in token of
Word origin
ME < OE tacn, akin to Ger zeichen < IE base *dei-, to point, show > teach, toe, digit, diction
Examples of 'token' in a sentence
token
Then attach your tokens to the form below.
The Sun (2016)
As with token money, so with token gestures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then attach TEN differently numbered tokens to the form printed yesterday and send to the address provided.
The Sun (2016)
Simply fix TEN differently numbered tokens to the form we printed yesterday and send to theaddress provided.
The Sun (2016)
When you have completed all the details on the booking form, attach your TEN tokens.
The Sun (2017)
To book, send TEN tokens along with your booking form.
The Sun (2017)
Nobody should want to be a token woman.
The Sun (2013)
We presented both our guests with token gifts of appreciation.
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
Some suppliers may announce a token cut but most will want to maintain the status quo.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The fifth token and voucher can be found below.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Or give them a token for something of their choosing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You just need ten differently numbered tokens.
The Sun (2009)
To enter you need eight different tokens attached to the form we printed yesterday.
The Sun (2011)
Surely some token of appreciation for his civic efforts would soon be forthcoming.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Here is another token to help your local school collect superb free books.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Use your tokens with the booking form online.
The Sun (2015)
Your four tokens and voucher are enough for up to four people to eat out together.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There can be only one token used per transaction.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Send me away with a small token of your kindness.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
It might be just a token gesture.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We will also print a voucher to which you can attach your tokens.
The Sun (2012)
You can download a voucher and a bonus token too.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They need a little something to cheer them up, a token of goodwill and friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Today's token is provided right.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They had to have a token woman in one of the top jobs, and she was the best of an unimpressive bunch.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All you need to treat yourself to a great holiday are TEN tokens from those we print.
The Sun (2015)
All you have to do is collect TEN differently numbered tokens.
The Sun (2011)
Users pay for gas and electricity in advance by topping up cards or buying tokens, but they are unable to access the best tariffs.
The Sun (2015)
I don't want to see any green vouchers that act like a token economy system for the sane.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
token
British English: token /ˈtəʊkən/ NOUN
A token is a piece of paper, plastic, or metal which can be used instead of money.
...a book token.
American English: token
Arabic: قَسِيمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: ficha sinal de sentimento
Chinese: 代币
Croatian: znamen
Czech: žeton
Danish: tegn
Dutch: fiche
European Spanish: vale indicación
Finnish: merkki
French: gage
German: Zeichen
Greek: τεκμήριο
Italian: buono
Japanese: しるし 現れ
Korean: 표시
Norwegian: oblat
Polish: żeton
European Portuguese: ficha
Romanian: jeton
Russian: жетон
Latin American Spanish: vale indicio o muestra inmaterial de algo
Swedish: pollett
Thai: สิ่งที่ใช้เป็นสัญลักษณ์
Turkish: nişan belirti
Ukrainian: жетон
Vietnamese: biên lai, phiếu, thẻ đổi hàng
British English: token ADJECTIVE
You use token to describe things or actions which are small or unimportant but are meant to show particular intentions or feelings which may not be sincere.
The announcement was welcomed as a step in the right direction, but was widely seen as a token gesture.
American English: token
Brazilian Portuguese: simbólico
Chinese: 装样子的
European Spanish: de detalle
French: symbolique
German: symbolisch
Italian: simbolico
Japanese: 形だけの
Korean: 명목상의
European Portuguese: simbólico
Latin American Spanish: de compromiso
All related terms of 'token'
book token
a gift token to be exchanged for books
gift token
a piece of paper to a specified value, given as a present , that can be exchanged for goods (such as books, DVDs, toiletries , etc) in a shop
love token
a gift that is symbolic of a love relationship
token money
coins of the regular issue having greater face value than the value of their metal content
token vote
a Parliamentary vote of money in which the amount quoted to aid discussion is not intended to be binding
record token
a gift voucher that can be used as payment for records of a specified value
token economy
a type of psychotherapy in which the inmates of an institution are rewarded for good behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
token gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
token payment
a small payment made in acknowledgment of the existence of debt
token strike
a brief strike intended to convey strength of feeling on a disputed issue
in token of
as evidence of
by the same token
You use by the same token to introduce a statement that you think is true for the same reasons that were given for a previous statement.