n.
- a thing serving to represent a fact, quality, feeling, etc.:
a token of friendship.
▸archaic a badge or favour worn to indicate allegiance.
▸archaic a word or object conferring authority on or serving to authenticate the speaker or holder.
▸a device given to a train driver on a single-track railway as authority to proceed.
- a voucher that can be exchanged for goods or services.
▸a metal or plastic disc used to operate a machine or in exchange for goods or services.
- Linguistics an individual occurrence of a linguistic unit in speech or writing. Contrasted with type.
- Computing a sequence of bits passed between nodes in a fixed order and enabling a node to transmit information.
adj.
done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture:
a token fine.
▸chosen by way of tokenism to represent a particular group.
Phrase
- by the same
(or that or this)
token
in the same way or for the same reason. - in token of
as a sign or symbol of.
Etymology
OE tāc(e)n, of Gmc origin; rel. to teach.