Approximately equal symbol
The approximate symbol ≈ is honesty in a single mark: it says “this value is close, and close is all I claim.” Two wavy lines — an equals sign that refuses to pretend. This page copies the approximately symbol and its relatives, separates the three look-alikes that fields keep apart, and gives the typing routes, since keyboards never gave ≈ a key.
Copy the approximation signs
Approximations ready to copy
≈, ≅ and ≃ are not interchangeable
| Sign | Name | Its claim |
|---|---|---|
| ≈ | Almost equal to (U+2248) | General approximation: π ≈ 3.14 — the everyday approx symbol of maths and science |
| ≅ | Approximately equal / congruent (U+2245) | Geometry’s congruence (same shape and size) and engineering’s strong approximation |
| ≃ | Asymptotically equal to (U+2243) | Two functions behaving alike as values grow — a statistics and analysis term of art |
| ~ | Tilde (U+007E) | The informal cousin: “~50 people”, “~2 hours” — approximation in plain text and chat |
The distinction that matters most is against its neighbours: = claims exact sameness, ≈ claims closeness, and ≠ claims difference — a value can be ≈ and ≠ at once (3.99 ≈ 4, and 3.99 ≠ 4). Choosing the sign is choosing the claim.
How to type it
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Mac | Option + X gives ≈ on US layouts |
| Windows / Word | Type 2248 then Alt + X (no reliable Alt-code — copy is the fallback) |
| HTML | HTML entity “asymp” (an ampersand, the word asymp, then a semicolon) or entity code 8776 |
| LaTeX | \approx (and \cong for ≅, \simeq for ≃) |
Explore more
The operator family lives on the math symbols hub, the difference claim is handled on the not equal symbol page, and every sign’s name is listed in the symbol names and meanings guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is ≈ called?
“Almost equal to”, read aloud as “approximately” or “about”: π ≈ 3.14 is “pi is approximately three point one four”.
What is the difference between ≈ and ≅?
≈ is the general approximation sign. ≅ adds a tilde over a straight bar and belongs to geometry (congruent figures) and engineering tolerances — using it for a rounded decimal looks off to trained eyes.
Is ~ the same as ≈?
In casual writing, yes — the tilde does approximation duty in texts and notes. In formal maths and science, ≈ is the correct sign and ~ carries other jobs (ranges, similarity, “distributed as” in statistics).
How do I type ≈ on Windows?
In Word: 2248 then Alt + X. Elsewhere there is no dependable Alt code, which is exactly why this page exists — one click copies it.
When should I use ≈ instead of =?
Whenever the value is rounded, measured or estimated: measurements carry error, decimals get truncated, counts get estimated. Writing = for those is a small false claim; ≈ keeps it honest.