Wingdings

Beginner 💻 Tech / IT

Definition

A TrueType font installed on most computers that displays letters and numbers as decorative symbols, shapes, and dingbats instead of standard characters. It became famous in the 1990s and 2000s as a novelty font for creating visual designs.

Example Usage

She typed her name in Wingdings to make a row of hearts and stars.

Origin

Created by Microsoft and released with Windows 3.1 in 1991; the name combines 'wing' and 'dings' (decorative marks).

Fun Fact

Wingdings generated numerous urban legends and conspiracy theories, most famously the claim that typing 'Q33 NY' (allegedly a flight number) in Wingdings would display symbols resembling the 9/11 attacks—a coincidence debunked as pareidolia.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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