Minus Emoji
Copy the Minus emoji
➖➖:minus:%E2%9E%96\2796What does the Minus emoji mean?
The Minus emoji (➖) comes from the Symbols set and represents minus. It is used to add visual context and emotional nuance where plain text alone would feel flat. Unicode maps this character to U+2796 and it first shipped in Emoji 1.0 (2015). The code point ensures the same underlying meaning even though visual art varies by vendor. In bios, headers, and captions this mark helps organise information, create rhythm, and make key terms pop on small screens. On Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and other vendors the artwork differs slightly — colour palette, shading, and line weight change — but the core concept of minus stays identical, so the emoji remains universally readable. You can copy this emoji as the character itself (➖), as an HTML entity (➖), or as a shortcode (:minus:) for platforms like Slack, Discord, and GitHub.
This detailed meaning was written by the UseEmoji editorial team after reviewing Unicode CLDR data and real-world usage. For quick identification, think of this emoji as shorthand for minus — it conveys that idea faster than words while keeping the message friendly and scannable.
How to use the Minus emoji
- In chat: Drop ➖ into a sentence where you would normally write “minus” to add tone and visual interest.
- On social media: Pair ➖ with a keyword or hashtag to make captions more searchable and expressive.
- In documents and code: Use the HTML entity ➖ or shortcode :minus: when the raw character may be escaped or unsupported.
Technical details & cross-platform notes
| Category | Symbols |
| Unicode code point | U+2796 |
| Introduced in | Emoji 1.0 (2015) |
| Shortcode | :minus: |
| HTML entity | ➖ |
| Platform rendering | Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft each draw their own glyph. The meaning stays minus everywhere — only the art style changes. |
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Frequently asked questions
What does Minus mean?
The Minus emoji (➖) comes from the Symbols set and represents minus. It is used to add visual context and emotional nuance where plain text alone would feel flat. Unicode maps this character to U+2796...
What is the Unicode code point?
Encoded at U+2796, introduced in Emoji 1.0 (2015). Official name: "Minus".
How do I copy the Minus emoji?
Click any Copy button above (Character, HTML Entity, Shortcode, CSS), then paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. On mobile, long-press to paste.
Is the Minus emoji free to use?
Yes. The Unicode character is free for personal and commercial copy. Vendor-specific artwork is copyrighted — copy the character, not the image file.
How is Minus used in context?
It adds visual shorthand for minus in social posts, messages, and documents where an image conveys tone faster than words.
Does it look the same on every device?
Meaning is identical, but art differs: Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft each render ➖ with their own style, colour, and shading.