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Approximately Equal Symbol (≈)

The approximately equal sign (≈) says two values are close but not exact — the flight takes ≈ 3 hours.

≈

Almost Equal To · U+2248 · Math Symbols

Click the symbol or the button to copy it, then paste it anywhere — documents, messages, bios and code.

Approximately Equal codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+2248`
Unicode name	`Almost Equal To`
HTML named entity	`≈`
HTML decimal	`≈`
HTML hex	`≈`
CSS content code	`\2248`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u2248`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above
LaTeX	`\approx`

Approximately Equal variants (7)

7 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.

≉Not Almost Equal To≅Approximately Equal To≃Asymptotically Equal To∼Tilde Operator~Tilde≒Approximately Equal To Or The Image Of≋Triple Tilde

Meaning & usage

≈ is the honest symbol: it says 'nearly, but not exactly'. Scientists use it for rounded measurements (≈ 9.8 m/s²), cooks for flexible amounts, and everyone for estimates like ≈ $50.

It is built from two wavy lines — a wobbly equals sign — which makes it easy to remember. Its casual cousin ~ does the same job in texts and chats, but ≈ is the correct choice in documents, homework and published writing.

Examples in use

The drive is ≈ 240 km
π ≈ 3.14159
Crowd of ≈ 5,000 fans

How to type the approximately equal

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for ≈. In Microsoft Word, type 2248 and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.

Mac

There is no Option-key shortcut for ≈ on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Approximately Equal", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.

iPhone & Android

Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for ≈. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)

Linux

Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2248 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type ≈ on a keyboard?

There is no standard key or Alt code. Copy it from this page; in Word you can type 2248 then press Alt+X, and on Linux press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2248, Enter.

What is the difference between ≈ and ~?

They both mean approximately in everyday use. In maths and science ≈ is the formal symbol, while ~ is informal — and in formal maths ~ can mean other things, like 'proportional to'.

Does ≈ have an HTML code?

Yes — the named entity is ≈, and the decimal code is ≈. Both are listed in the codes table on this page.

Why does ≈ sometimes show as a box or question mark?

The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+2248 (Almost Equal To). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Approximately Equal free to use?

Yes. ≈ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.