Approximately Equal Sign ≈ Copy and Paste

Tap ≈ to copy the double tilde that means "roughly equal": π ≈ 3.14, ≈ 200 guests, 1 mile ≈ 1.6 km. The table gives the shortcut for each device, and the notes sort out ≈, ≃, ≅ and the single tilde.

≈

ALMOST EQUAL TO

U+2248 · tap the symbol to copy

How to Type the Approximately Equal Sign

UnicodeU+2248 ALMOST EQUAL TO
HTML≈ or ≈
WindowsWin + . (emoji panel) → Symbols, or type 2248 then Alt + X in Word; the legacy Alt + 247 works in many apps
MacOption + X
iPhoneOpen the #+= keyboard and hold the = key; ≈ sits beside ≠ in the pop-up
AndroidGboard: switch to ?123 and hold the = key; ≈ appears on most versions, otherwise add a shortcut in Gboard → Dictionary
LaTeX\approx

Approximately Equal Sign Variants and Lookalikes

Using the Approximately Equal Sign

The approximately equal sign is a pair of stacked tildes. It tells the reader that the two sides agree closely but not exactly, whether because a value has been rounded (√2 ≈ 1.414), estimated (the crowd was ≈ 5,000) or converted between units (1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm, though that one happens to be exact). It is the standard sign in physics, engineering and statistics for "close enough for this purpose".

One tilde or two?

The single tilde ~ on your keyboard is the informal ancestor. In hand-written notes and in code comments it is understood, and it is the only option in plain-ASCII contexts such as filenames and SMS. In typeset maths the single tilde operator ∼ has other meanings: X ∼ N(0, 1) says a variable follows a distribution, and A ∼ B says two matrices or triangles are similar. Using it for approximation in a paper invites misreading, so the double tilde ≈ is preferred whenever the font supports it, which today is everywhere.

≈, ≃ and ≅

The three signs look alike and are routinely mixed up. ≈ is numerical closeness. ≃ (tilde over one bar) marks asymptotic equality, meaning two functions grow at the same rate, and is also used for homotopy equivalence. ≅ (tilde over two bars) is congruence in geometry and isomorphism in algebra, a statement about structure rather than magnitude. If you are describing numbers, ≈ is always the one you want; the others say something stronger about shape or growth.

Spacing and position

Set it with a space on either side, exactly as you would the not equal sign: 22/7 ≈ 3.1429. When it prefixes a lone estimate it closes up, as in "≈40 minutes", mirroring the prefix use of ±. The glyph is centred on the maths axis, so its waves align with the bars of a neighbouring equals sign.

Typing

Mac users press Option + X. On Windows the Latin-1 Alt codes do not cover it, but the DOS-era Alt + 247 still works in many programs, and Word turns 2248 into ≈ after Alt + X. Phones are friendlier than for most maths symbols: on the iPhone, holding = on the #+= page reveals both ≈ and ≠, and Gboard does the same on most builds. In HTML the entity is ≈, and LaTeX uses \approx, with \simeq and \cong for the two look-alikes.

Casual and creative uses

Online, ≈ softens a number without a caveat sentence: "≈ 3 hrs of sleep", "reads ≈ 50 books a year". It also serves as a wavy divider in aesthetic symbols layouts, where its double wave complements ∼ and ≋ in ocean-themed bios. Because it is text rather than an emoji, it will not swap to a coloured icon on someone else's phone, and it is an easy way to add a scholarly touch to a caption styled with the italic fonts generator.

Approximately Equal Sign FAQ

How do I type the approximately equal sign in Word?

Type 2248 where you want the sign, then press Alt + X and Word replaces the code with ≈. You can also use Insert → Symbol → More Symbols and choose the Mathematical Operators subset, or Insert → Equation, where \approx followed by a space converts automatically.

What is the Mac shortcut for ≈?

Option + X on the US and UK keyboards. Note that Option + N followed by a space gives the single tilde ˜, which is a different character used as an accent.

Is ≈ the same as ~?

Not formally. The ASCII tilde ~ is accepted as "approximately" in informal writing and in places that cannot show ≈, but in typeset mathematics the tilde operator means "similar to" or "distributed as". Use ≈ whenever the platform supports Unicode.

When do I use ≅ instead of ≈?

≅ says two objects are congruent (identical in size and shape) or isomorphic (identical in structure). It is not about numbers being close. For rounded or estimated values, stick with ≈.

Where is ≈ on the iPhone keyboard?

Tap 123, then #+=, and touch and hold the = key. A small pop-up offers ≠ and ≈; slide across to the double tilde and release. Gboard on Android hides it under the same key.

Does ≈ mean anything in a text message or bio?

It simply signals an estimate, as in "home ≈ 6pm". Some people also use it as a decorative wave between words. It renders identically on every phone, unlike emoji, because it is a plain mathematical character.