something serving as a sign of something else
"The small ribbon was merely a token of her gratitude to the volunteers."
a metal or plastic disk that can be redeemed or used in designated slot machines
"He inserted the shiny token into the slot machine to start playing."
Something serving as an expression of something else.
"He gave her a small flower as a token of his appreciation."
In plain English: A token is a small object given to someone as a symbol of appreciation, even if it doesn't have much actual value.
"She used her parking token to enter the garage without paying cash."
Usage: Use the noun form to describe physical objects like coins or digital credentials that represent value or access rather than their literal material worth. When referring to symbolic gestures of goodwill, ensure it implies something tangible given in place of genuine feeling.
To betoken, indicate, portend, designate, denote
"The dark clouds gathering on the horizon seem to token a storm is approaching soon."
In plain English: To token means to show you care about something by doing just enough of it so people think you are trying, but not actually making any real effort.
"The manager decided to token their efforts with a small gift certificate at the end of the shift."
Done as an indication or a pledge.
"She gave him a small gift as a token of her gratitude."
In plain English: When something is described as token, it means you are doing just enough of it to look good but not really trying hard or caring much about actually making a difference.
"The teacher gave him a small token award for finishing his homework early."
The word token comes from the Old English tācn, meaning "sign" or "symbol." It traveled into Middle and Modern English while retaining this core sense of something that represents a larger idea.