Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (2024)

While a tattoo can be as thought-out or frivolous as you want, getting a meaningful piece is a great way to honor something important to you. A design with meaning adds another layer of personalization, making it a genuinely unique tattoo no matter how popular the symbol. And considering a tattoo will be with you forever (or until you remove it), a meaningful choice means you’ll enjoy the reminder of what it represents every time you look at it. One popular meaningful tattoo design is the semicolon, which has come to be a major symbol of mental health and resilience over the years. Ahead, we dive into the meaning of semicolon tattoos plus share 24 stunning examples to fit every aesthetic.

What Does a Semicolon Tattoo Mean?

In the context of grammar, a semicolon is used to combine two complete sentences that are related. In other words, a semicolon means that the thought is not quite over even though the sentence is—there’s still more to come. That sentiment is the ethos of Project Semicolon, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, self-harm, suicide, and addiction.

While you don’t have to get a semicolon tattoo because of its meaning, many people do so to honor someone—whether that’s a friend, a relative, or themselves—or to raise general awareness. A semicolon tattoo is more than just a visual representation; it's often a conversation starter, so you can spread the word while rocking your cool tat.

The semicolon’s flexibility as a design has made the symbol a popular tattoo choice, and it's led to tons of beautifully customized pieces of ink. If you’re considering a semicolon tattoo, see 24 ways to personalize the design below.

The Best Semicolon Tattoo Inspiration

01of 24

Butterfly

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (1)

This design uses a semicolon as the body of a butterfly, with wings attached. The symbolic message offers a lesson on beginnings, ends, and new life.

02of 24

Miniscule

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (2)

This dainty design offers the subtlest nod at the meaningful trend. Placement on the wrist is traditional for semicolon tattoos, making this one a classic.

03of 24

Heart

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (3)

This style puts a sweet twist on the traditional semicolon, pairing a heart with a comma beneath. This offers extra symbolism for those who get the art in honor of a loved one.

04of 24

Classic

Placement on the wrist and black ink make this a classic take on semicolon tattoo art.

05of 24

Floral

This tattoo places the semicolon within a two-strand floral wreath. It's proof that you can pair semicolons with other designs for an extra twist.

06of 24

Sun

A subtle sun design takes the place of the traditional period in this semicolon design. The sun adds the extra symbolism of dawn and new beginnings.

07of 24

Brush Strokes

This bold style eschews the standard dot and comma for a wide, brush-stroke-like take on the trend. It looks great in black but could work with a wide variety of other hues, as well.

08of 24

Back of the Neck

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (4)

The back of the neck is a prime spot for a tattoo like this one, where the symbolism is only noticeable when you choose to pull your hair up to show it off.

09of 24

Purple and Blue

The stunning, ombré shades of purple and blue here add a fun hint of personality to classic semicolon art.

10of 24

Flower Branch

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (5)

Why settle for one design when you could have two you love? This style features both a striking floral brand and a semicolon—so you get the best of both worlds.

11of 24

Multicolored

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (6)

This strip of color is bold and beautiful, with blues and deep greens throughout. The semicolon offers the juxtaposition of a bright white border to help the design (and its meaning) stand out.

12of 24

Rainbow

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (7)

This series of rainbow dots is both striking and symbolic, with each grammatical nod offering a different point of view. The choice to make the final purple one into a semicolon helps communicate the message that your story is never truly over.

13of 24

Arrow

This design offers a double meaning: the semicolon to raise awareness for suicide prevention, and an arrow to represent that the wearer will continue on.

14of 24

Mermaid

A truly unique take on the semicolon, this style features a mermaid and flower moon comprising the symbol. The colors and bold design make this one a showstopper.

15of 24

Warrior

Here, the semicolon stands in for an "i" in the word "warrior." The message and the symbol signify remaining steadfast against opposition.

16of 24

Sunflower

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (8)

At first glance, this simple design appears to be nothing more than a sunflower, but upon further inspection, you'll notice a semicolon takes residence within the flower's stem.

17of 24

Abstract Butterfly

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (9)

Butterflies are a popular semicolon design, but we like how this one is done in simple black ink, with the added twist of an abstract shape.

18of 24

Beating Heart

An anatomical heart tops a semicolon here for a "heartfelt" take on the trend. You could pair nearly any clip art with a semicolon, though the heart makes it extra symbolic.

19of 24

Paint Splatter

This paint splatter design draws extra attention to the semicolon and allows the wearer to rock all their favorite hues of the rainbow.

20of 24

Earth and Asteroid

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (10)

This Big Bang-themed design sees a dinosaur-laden Earth colliding with an asteroid. Together, the shapes mimic a semicolon, but with a fun, cartoonish twist.

21of 24

Thin Line

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (11)

This simple and elegant take on the look utilizes just two thin lines, but the varying colors (red and black) offer a complementary and more impactful design.

22of 24

Flock of Birds

Here, the top of the semicolon tattoo breaks off into a flock of birds. The message is one of freedom and continuation.

23of 24

Cat

Here, a semicolon gets topped with a tiny cat head. This is perfect for cat lovers, but you can also adjust it to feature another shape, depending on your interests.

24of 24

Sentence Fragment

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (12)

Some of the more touching semicolon tattoo designs are those that feature the semicolon at the end of a sentence to signify—as this design does—that your story isn't over.

Semicolon Tattoos Are a Simple But Meaningful Choice—See 24 Stunning Examples (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of a semicolon tattoo? ›

So, what does a semicolon tattoo mean? The simple answer is that a semicolon tattoo means that the person wearing it has overcome some sort of hardship in their life. The semicolon has become a symbol of hope for people who have battled depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health issues.

What does (;) mean? ›

semicolon. A punctuation mark (;) used to join two independent clauses in a sentence. The semicolon shows that the ideas in the two clauses are related: “Jack really didn't mind being left without a car; he had the house to himself.”

What symbolizes a semicolon? ›

The semicolon ; (or semi-colon) is a symbol commonly used as orthographic punctuation. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought, such as when restating the preceding idea with a different expression.

Why does Selena Gomez have a semicolon tattoo? ›

Tattooing the semicolon represents the hope needed for moments of darkness, and in people who have struggled with depression or who have had suicide attempts, it symbolizes a time when they contemplated ending their lives but decided to resist, fighting disorders and self-harm.

Why is everyone getting a semicolon tattoo? ›

They are known for encouraging people to tattoo the punctuation mark semicolon (;) as a form of solidarity between people dealing with mental illness or the death of someone from suicide. Founded in 2013, ten years after the death of Amy Bleuel's father by suicide.

What does a 444 tattoo mean? ›

444 Tattoo Meaning

The number 444 is frequently interpreted as a sign of divine presence and support, making the 444 tattoo a potent symbol for those navigating their life paths. It also embodies luck, stability, and inner strength, closely aligning with personal beliefs and amplifying the wearer's narrative.

What is the meaning of semicolon in love? ›

The semicolon says that the past doesn't tell our whole story. There's always a future story yet to be told. The semicolon dares to hope about this future that the best is always yet to come. I believe this is true, always, which is why love is a semicolon.

What does a semicolon mean in mental health? ›

The semicolon symbolizes a continuation of someone's life. The semicolon is a representation of strength in the middle of a storm. It is used as an affirmation of solidarity against a plethora of mental health issues including suicide, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

Where do you put a semicolon tattoo? ›

Really simple and especially beautiful semicolon tattoos stand for hope. Place them on your wrist, behind your ear, your finger or anywhere you like, it's your body after all. Every time you look at this meaningful tattoo you'll be reminded that you and other semicolon tattoo wearers kept going and made it through.

What is the power of the semicolon? ›

The use of the semicolon suggests that the writer sees the two smaller sentences as being more closely related than the average two consecutive sentences; preferring the semicolon to and often gives a more vivid sense of the relation between the two.

What does the semicolon mean in a life quote? ›

The semicolon is used when a sentence could have ended, but didn't” If you have ever self harmed, been depressed, or attempted suicide, you might want to be part of The Semicolon Movement. It helps serve a a reminder that your sentence doesn't have to end, and you don't have to end it.

What is the semicolon (;) used for? ›

A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.

What does black semicolon mean? ›

It's a tattoo that has gained popularity in recent years, but unlike other random or mystifying trends, this one has a serious meaning behind it. (And no, it's not just the mark of a really committed grammar nerd.) The semicolon tattoo represents mental health struggles and the importance of suicide prevention.

Which hand is best for a tattoo, left or right? ›

The tattoo artist uses a machine that looks like a sewing machine. The machine contains one or two needles that inject inking droplets just under your skin. Any arm, right or left, would be good for a tattoo. The choice boils down to your personal preferences.

What does g tattoo mean? ›

Hailey Bieber's "G" Tattoo on Her Neck

Sometimes, the smallest tattoos can have the biggest meaning, and that's definitely the case with Bieber's lowercase cursive "g" tattoo. The letter is an homage to Georgia, the daughter of pastor Chad Veach, who was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called lissencephaly.

What is an example of a semicolon? ›

Here's an example: “The pancakes were delicious; they were fluffy and sweet.” You can see that each half of this sentence—on either side of the semicolon—could stand alone as a complete sentence. I could replace the semicolon with a period, and it would still make perfect sense.

What does a three dots tattoo mean? ›

Three dots

Photo Whiserkino. The three dots tattoo is a common prison tattoo that represents “mi vida loca,” or “my crazy life.” It's not associated with any particular gang, but with the gang lifestyle itself. This tattoo is typically found on the hands or around the eyes.

What does the 2 dots tattoo mean? ›

Spiritual or religious significance: In some spiritual or religious contexts, two dots can represent the idea of duality or the balance between two opposing forces. For example, in Hinduism, two dots can represent the dualistic concept of yin and yang, or the balance between masculine and feminine energies.

What does a tattoo on the wrist mean? ›

They can symbolize strength, determination, or serve as a reminder of significant life events. Some common symbols include infinity signs, hearts, feathers, birds, and anchors. Wrist tattoos can also represent personal milestones, cultural heritage, or acts as a tribute to loved ones.

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