yin-yang symbol

noun

ˈyin-ˌyäŋ- How to pronounce yin-yang symbol (audio)
-ˌyaŋ-
variants or less commonly yinyang symbol
: a graphic symbol of Chinese origin that has the form of a circle divided evenly into two symmetrical teardrop shapes representing yin and yang

Note: One of the teardrop shapes in a yin-yang symbol is dark (usually black) and the other is light (usually white), with each containing a small circle of the other color.

Examples of yin-yang symbol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Surveillance video showed a tattoo of a yin-yang symbol on the left hand of the man who robbed the bank. — Christopher Roth, azcentral, 14 Jan. 2020 In December, the actress posted a Reel of a day in her life, which included waking up, walking on a treadmill in a baggy gray sweatshirt and heading into work, wearing an oversized cardigan with yin-yang symbols across the top. — Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 26 June 2024 Its first administrative officer, James Ulio, designed its insignia around the yin-yang symbol, a figure that in Asian traditions signifies a balanced embrace of opposing forces. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, 1 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yin-yang symbol was in 1955

Rhymes for yin-yang symbol

See All Rhymes for yin-yang symbol

Browse Nearby Words

yin-yang
yin-yang symbol
yinz
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yin-yang symbol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yin-yang%20symbol. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All