biohazard
Unicode: 2623 FE0F
Description
A skull and crossbones symbol, universally recognized as a warning of danger, poison, or death. The skull is typically white or off-white, and the crossbones are placed beneath it.
Group:
Symbols > warning
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Represents danger, warning, toxicity, harmful substances, death, or pirate themes. It evokes a sense of caution or menace.
Backstory
The skull and crossbones symbol has ancient origins, used as a memento mori (a reminder of death) and later adopted by pirates as their Jolly Roger flag. In modern times, it became the standard symbol for poison labels on dangerous chemicals and has been formally encoded in Unicode to represent this universal warning.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a dangerous chemical: 'Do not touch! ☠️'
- Warning about a hazardous area: 'Danger zone ahead ☠️'
- Themed for pirates: 'Ahoy, matey! ☠️'
- Figuratively implying something is 'dead' or 'over': 'My diet is officially ☠️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Strongly associated with pirates, poison labels, and warnings of lethal hazards.
East Asian culture:
Similar associations with danger and poison, but also sometimes used in a playful or cute context, particularly in stylized forms, though its primary meaning remains serious.