Definition & Meaning of "emoticon"

What is an "emoticon"?

An emoticon is a textual representation of a facial expression created using keyboard characters to convey emotions in written communication. For example, a smiley face is represented as :-) or :) to indicate happiness, while a sad face can be shown as :-( or :( to express sadness. Emoticons are commonly used in informal settings, such as texting and online messaging, to add emotional context to messages that might otherwise be misunderstood. They help convey tone and sentiment, making conversations more engaging and expressive. While emoticons were popular in the early days of digital communication, they have largely been replaced by more complex emojis that provide a wider range of expressive options.