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≍

equivalent to

Equivalent-to sign

≍ marks two mathematical expressions as equivalent under a chosen relation, not necessarily identical. Some technical fields give it a specialized reading, so the surrounding notation matters.

Text symbol

What ≍ means

The surrounding notation tells you which relation is meant. In an 1851 geometry text, Charles Davies used a curved equals sign to distinguish figures with equal areas from congruent figures, which have the same shape and size.

In asymptotic notation, some texts use it to mean “asymptotically equal,” comparing how quantities behave as their inputs grow. That is a specific mathematical relation, not a casual claim that two values are close; follow the definition in the text.

Formal mathematical notation. In LaTeX, \asymp produces this sign.

Don't replace it with or unless the author's notation allows it; the relations can differ.

Don't confuse it with

≈

Almost Equal To

Usually means approximately equal; ≍ can instead mark a specific equivalence relation.

≅

Approximately Equal To

In geometry, often marks congruence: figures with the same shape and size.

≎

Geometrically Equivalent To

The curves bulge outward from the middle, where ≍'s curves face each other.

Combination ideas

f and g grow at the same rate, up to constants.

Same order of growth as n squared.

log n! grows like n log n.

Questions people ask

Why does ≍ show as a box on some devices?

Because that device's fonts have no glyph for it. The character is still correct and still copies correctly — the box is a missing glyph, not a broken character.

How to type or find ≍

Search it as: asymp · curved equals · equivalent sign · asymptotic notation
Shows up in: Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws

Windows (Word)

⎇Alt+XType 224D, then AltX to get ≍.

Windows

⊞Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win .).

macOS

⌃Control+⌘Command+␣SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “equivalent to”.

Linux

⎈Ctrl+⇧Shift+UType 224d, then Enter or Space.

HTML

≍

CSS

\224D

Codes and encoding1 code points

HTML decimal

≍

HTML hex

≍

CSS content

content: "\224D";

Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.

URL encoded

%E2%89%8D

On screen

Code points

JS .length

UTF-8 bytes

A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.

Families this belongs to

Maths & numbers1,835 symbols

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