smiley face
smiley face
Pronunciation
Smiley face: /ˈsmaɪli feɪs/
smil /smaɪl/:
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "my")
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
ey /i/:
/i/ - voiced close front unrounded vowel
face /feɪs/:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Singular: smiley face
Plural: smiley faces
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Smiley face
A stylized representation of a smiling human face, typically a yellow circle with two dots for eyes and an upturned curve for a mouth, used to convey happiness, amusement, or friendliness, especially in digital communication.
Synonyms: emoticon, emoji, happy face, smilie
Antonyms: frown, sad face, scowl
(Figurative) An expression, gesture, or situation that indicates approval, positivity, or lightheartedness.
Synonyms: good sign, positive signal, green light, thumbs up
Antonyms: bad sign, negative signal, red flag, thumbs down
Examples of Use
Books:
"He drew a little smiley face on the corner of the napkin, a silent message of encouragement." (From a fictional novel, exact title not specified, but representative of common usage in literature)
"The children's book featured a bright yellow smiley face on the cover, promising a cheerful story within." (General description of children's book design)
Newspapers:
"Local business owners are hoping for a smiley face on their balance sheets this quarter, despite rising inflation." (Figurative use in a financial news report, The Daily Herald, May 15, 2023)
"The editorial cartoon depicted the mayor with a giant smiley face, hinting at his overly optimistic pronouncements." (City Gazette, June 10, 2024)
Online Publications:
"Add a smiley face 😊 to your emails to soften a difficult message or simply to convey warmth." (From a blog post on professional communication, Business Etiquette Blog, April 2, 2025)
"Twitter users reacted with a flurry of smiley faces and laughing emojis to the viral video." (Article on social media trends, TechCrunch, July 1, 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show: "In the episode, the detective found a strange smiley face drawn on the victim's mirror, adding a cryptic element to the crime scene." (From a crime drama series, e.g., CSI: Miami)
Film: "The villain's signature was a stylized smiley face left at the scene of each of his crimes." (Description of a recurring motif in a thriller film, e.g., The Dark Knight)
Music: "The lyrics of the pop song included the line, 'Put on your smiley face, even when you're feeling low,' referencing a common coping mechanism." (Representative of song lyrics)
Video Games: "Collecting ten golden smiley faces unlocks a secret level in the game." (Common mechanic in platformer games, e.g., Super Mario)
General Public Discourse:
"My daughter drew a smiley face on her test paper, hoping to charm the teacher into giving her a better grade." (Casual conversation among parents)
"He always greets you with a big smiley face, no matter what kind of day he's having." (Describing someone's cheerful demeanor)
"They even put a smiley face sticker on my coffee cup – it brightened my morning." (Everyday observation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Smiley Face
"Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile, and start again." (Author unknown, widely attributed as a motivational quote)
"A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear." (Marilyn Monroe, often paraphrased)
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." (Thich Nhat Hanh, a quote emphasizing the power of smiling)
"Peace begins with a smile." (Mother Teresa, highlighting the positive impact of a simple smile)
"I have many problems in life. But my lips don't know that. They always smile." (Charlie Chaplin, a quote about maintaining a cheerful facade)
"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness." (William Arthur Ward, emphasizing the communicative power of a smile)
"I was thinking about the first time I saw a smiley face on a computer screen, how revolutionary it felt to convey emotion that way." (Attributed to a tech pioneer reflecting on early internet use, likely a paraphrase or anecdotal recollection)
"In the digital age, a smiley face can say more than a thousand words." (A modern proverb reflecting the impact of emoticons, author unknown)
"He wore a permanent smiley face of optimism, even when the news was grim." (Figurative use, implying a consistently positive demeanor, author unknown, common in descriptive writing)
"The doctor said, 'Just give me a smiley face,' and that's how I knew I was going to be okay after surgery." (Anecdotal, representing a reassuring and simple request for a positive expression)
Etymology
The story of the "smiley face" as we commonly know it – the yellow circle with two dots for eyes and an upturned curve for a mouth – really begins in 1963.
Before that, people had certainly drawn simple smiling faces throughout history. There's even a 3,700-year-old pot found in Turkey with faint markings that resemble a smiley. But the specific, iconic yellow and black design has a clear origin.
In 1963, a graphic designer named Harvey Ball was hired by an insurance company in Worcester, Massachusetts, called State Mutual Life Assurance. The company was going through some tough times after a merger, and morale among employees was low. They wanted a simple image to cheer everyone up.
Harvey Ball, in just about ten minutes, sketched out the now-famous design: a yellow circle with simple oval eyes and a curved smile. He was paid only $45 for his work. The company then put this design on buttons, posters, and signs for their employees.
The design was an instant hit within the company and quickly spread. Because neither Harvey Ball nor the company bothered to trademark the design, it was freely copied and used by many others.
In the early 1970s, two brothers, Bernard and Murray Spain, in Philadelphia saw the design's popularity. They started selling their own version of the smiley face on various products, adding the phrase "Have a Nice Day!" This really helped make the smiley face a widespread symbol of positivity in popular culture, especially in America.
So, while simple smiling faces have existed for a very long time, the specific "smiley face" design we recognize today and its widespread use in modern culture can be traced back to Harvey Ball's creation in 1963.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Smiley Face
Put on a smiley face: To pretend to be happy or cheerful, even if you're not.
A big smiley face: A very wide, enthusiastic smile.
To wear a smiley face: To have a perpetually cheerful or optimistic expression.
Give a smiley face: To smile at someone.
Draw a smiley face: To sketch the iconic symbol.
A smiley face sticker: A common tangible item featuring the symbol.
Smiley face emoji: Referring to the digital icon.
A smiley-face response: A generally positive or agreeable reaction.
All smiles: Everyone is happy and cheerful. (Using synonym "smile")
Grin and bear it: To accept a difficult situation without complaining, often with a forced smile. (Using synonym "grin")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of smiley face from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
