noun / adjective
token
TOH-kun/ˈtəʊkən/
An item standing for something beyond itself.
A brass token serves as payment for an arcade game.
Etymology
From a sign or piece of evidence, token came to include physical objects representing an action or state. A keepsake illustrates the connection: an object serves as a reminder of something else.
In context
thank you very much for doing this we would normally give a small token our appreciation um in the whole i'll ask george to send something out to you
More examples
- The app uses a digital token to verify your access.
- Please accept these flowers as a token of our gratitude.
- The company makes only a token effort to address complaints.
Forms
token · tokens
tokenism noun — Making symbolic gestures instead of meaningful changes.