≅
≅ Congruent Symbol
The congruent symbol (≅) means two figures are the same shape and size. It is one of three near-identical symbols — ≅, ≡ and ≈ — that mean different things.
Also known as: congruent symbol, congruent geometry symbol, congruence sign, approximately equal to.
Codes
| Symbol | ≅ | |
| Identical to | ≡ · U+2261 | |
| Almost equal to | ≈ · U+2248 | |
| Unicode | U+2245 | |
| HTML entity (named) | ≅ | |
| HTML entity (decimal) | ≅ | |
| HTML entity (hex) | ≅ | |
| CSS | \2245 | |
| LaTeX | \cong | |
| Windows Alt code | Alt + 8773 |
How to type ≅ (Congruent Symbol)
Windows2245, Alt + X
In Word, type 2245 then press Alt + X. Elsewhere, copy ≅ above or use Character Map.
Mac
No default keystroke. Open Character Viewer (Control + Cmd + Space) and search “congruent”, or copy ≅ above.
Microsoft Word2245, Alt + X
Type 2245, then press Alt + X to convert it to ≅.
Google Docs
Insert → Special characters, then search “congruent”. In an equation, \cong followed by a space also works.
LaTeX\cong
Use \cong in math mode: \triangle ABC \cong \triangle DEF.
Usage
- In geometry, △ABC ≅ △DEF says the two triangles are congruent — same shape, same size, one can be moved onto the other. Similar (same shape, any size) is a different relation, written ∼.
- ★ Three symbols, three meanings, and they get swapped constantly: ≅ (U+2245) is congruence — geometric figures, or isomorphic structures in algebra. ≡ (U+2261) is “identically equal”, and in number theory it is congruence modulo n: 17 ≡ 2 (mod 5). ≈ (U+2248) is numerical approximation: π ≈ 3.14.
- So “a is congruent to b mod n” takes ≡, not ≅ — a distinction almost everyone gets wrong at first. Geometry takes ≅.
- A Unicode oddity worth knowing: the official name of U+2245 is “APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO”, even though its HTML entity is ≅ and mathematics uses it for congruence. Trust the entity and the usage, not the character name.