token
/ˈtəʊkən/
Group 33Difficulty 1/3
Definitions
- (adjective)
- Done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture; perfunctory GRE
- (noun)
- A thing serving as a visible representation of a fact or quality GRE
Example in Context
The company's token gesture toward sustainability—planting a few trees while expanding its carbon-intensive operations—was dismissed as greenwashing.
Synonyms
symbolicnominalminimal
Etymology
A sign or symbol, often used to represent something superficially.
- token (Old English) — sign or symbol
Memory Aid
🎭Sounds like “token”
Imagine a guy giving a TOY TOKEN as a gift, saying, 'Here’s a TOKEN of my love—it's plastic but looks real!'
Visual Association
🪙A shiny token lying on a table, symbolizing a gesture that feels hollow.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “token” mean on the GRE?
token (adjective) means “Done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture; perfunctory”. The company's token gesture toward sustainability—planting a few trees while expanding its carbon-intensive operations—was dismissed as greenwashing.
How to remember “token” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “token” sounds like “token”. Imagine a guy giving a TOY TOKEN as a gift, saying, 'Here’s a TOKEN of my love—it's plastic but looks real!'
What are synonyms for “token”?
Common synonyms: symbolic, nominal, minimal.