The hidden meaning behind the dynamite emoji, revealed - so, did YOU know?

The hidden meaning behind the dynamite emoji has been revealed.

The meaning was revealed by Dictionary.com, which explained that the emoji was in its shortlist for 2025 Word of the Year. 

Ultimately, the emoji was pipped to the post by 67 – Gen Alpha slang meaning 'nothing'. 

However, Dictionary.com has revealed why the unassuming emoji proved so popular this year.

According to the site, the dynamite emoji is actually shorthand for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

'The dynamite emoji, traditionally representing dynamite, a firecracker, or TNT, took on an unexpected new meaning in 2025,' Dictionary.com explained. 

'Once used to convey excitement, impact, explosive energy, or literal firecrackers, it began to see a playful reinterpretation following the engagement of singer Taylor Swift and professional footballer Travis Kelce.'

So, have you been using the emoji without realising? 

The emoji first shot to fame when Swift and Kelce announced their engagement on Instagram on 26 August. 

The pair posted a series of photos of the proposal – with the post garnering a staggering 37 million likes.

A simple caption read: 'Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married', alongside the dynamite emoji. 

According to Dictionary.com, this was a nod to the couple's names – which both conveniently begin with a 'T'.  

'Across social media, the emoji was rebranded as shorthand for the couple themselves — "T 'n' T," or "T & T" — symbolizing a relationship that fans saw as both powerful and endearing,' the team explained. 

This isn't the first time celebrities have become strongly associated with specific emoji. 

Canadian rapper Drake has been linked with the owl emoji since 2011, when he launched his OVO clothing brand featuring an owl as its logo. 

DJ Khaled, meanwhile, is associated with the key emoji, after sharing nuggets of wisdom dubbed 'major keys to success' on Snapchat. 

In addition, Beyonce – or 'Queen Bey' – is linked to the bee emoji, used to describe her loyal following, dubbed the Beyhive. 

According to Dictionary.com, the rise of the dynamite emoji 'highlights how digital symbols evolve alongside cultural moments.'   

'What was once simply an icon of literal or metaphorical combustion has become a cute, fandom–driven emblem of celebrity romance,' it added. 

The emoji was beaten for 'word of the year' by 67 – a term that has been making waves with Gen–Alpha kids around the world.

According to the organization, the definition of '67' remains complicated.

It explained that some people see it as a word that means, 'so–so,' while other kids view it as a way to simply annoy their parents.

The term comes with a matching hand gesture, where 'both palms face up and move alternately up and down,' Dictionary.com explained.

However, for most kids, just knowing the term can indicate that you're part of the 'cool' group.