token

Universal Words noun, adjective noun 1 a round piece of metal or plastic used instead of money to operate some machines or as a form of payment: a parking token 2 (BrE) a piece of paper that you pay for and that sb can exchange for sth in a shop/store: a ｣20 book / record / gift token -< VOUCHER 3 a piece of paper that you can collect when you buy a particular product and then exchange for sth: Collect six tokens for a free T-shirt. 4 something that is a symbol of a feeling, a fact, an event, etc: Please accept this small gift as a token of our gratitude. IDIOMS by the same token for the same reasons: The penalty for failure will be high. But, by the same token, the rewards for success will be great. adjective [onlybeforenoun] 1 involving very little effort or feeling and intended only as a way of showing other people that you think sb/sth is important, when really you are not sincere: The government has only made a token gesture towards helping the unemployed. * There was one token woman on the committee (= a woman who is included in the group to make it look as if women are always included, although that is not true). * When he suggested going into business on their own, she put up only a token resistance. 2 done as a symbol to show that you are serious about sth and will keep a promise or an agreement or do more later: The government agreed to send a small token force to the area. * a one-day token strike 3 (of a small amount of money) that you pay or charge sb only as a symbol, because a payment is expected: We charge only a token fee for use of the facilities.