a token visit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a token visit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a visit that is made for the sake of formality or to fulfill an obligation, rather than for genuine interest or engagement. Example: "The manager made a token visit to the office to ensure everyone was present before the holiday break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Kremlin has buried a plan it mooted in December to have Mr Yeltsin make a token visit to Grozny, the Chechen capital.In this section When my old dutch is a man Still growling Replenish your Rhenish The chill descending on Turkey The tide turns?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I just came from my annual token visit to the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach.

Los Angeles Times

That brief token visit and the absolute pointlessness it represents perhaps sums up the Palestinian attitude towards Obama.

Vice

Standard "walking around foreign city" date with token visit to statue that people on their honeymoons visit to make stereotypical wish that they find love.

Huffington Post

Health care will be available at clinics for a token 30 baht a visit.

The Economist

The second – shadowed, like all the stories written after 1915, by the death of his son, John Kipling, at the Battle of Loos – portrays a Sussex cook who visits a "token", or wraith, to take on the suffering of the man who rejected her.

The Guardian - Books

We say that a node is visited by a token when the node gets exclusive access to the token; the visitation period can be used by the node to add node-specific information into the token, resulting in data aggregation.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The idea is to introduce a token in the network that successively visits all nodes in the network using a random walk traversal and computes the overall aggregate.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is being dispatched to Israel next week, a visit the White House described as a token of the unprecedented security cooperation between the two countries.

Los Angeles Times

Piano manufacturer Franz Becker made occasional visits to the School as a token music teacher.

Wikipedia

A visit to Top Golf does not involve buying a token and hoping there is a dry stall available.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a token visit" when you want to emphasize that a visit was made more for appearance's sake than out of genuine interest or necessity. It implies the visit was brief and perhaps lacked substance.

Common error

Avoid using "a token visit" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound cynical or dismissive. Consider alternative phrases like "a brief visit" or "a symbolic visit" to maintain a more neutral and objective voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a token visit" functions as a noun phrase, where "token" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "visit". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is used to describe a visit that is superficial or done only for the sake of appearances.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a token visit" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a visit made primarily for appearances rather than genuine engagement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct but relatively rare. Its primary function is to express skepticism about the sincerity or value of a visit, making it suitable for news or analytical contexts. While grammatically correct, consider alternative phrases like "a brief visit" or "a symbolic visit" to avoid overuse or a potentially cynical tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief visit

Focuses on the short duration of the visit.

a symbolic visit

Emphasizes the visit's representative or emblematic nature.

a perfunctory visit

Highlights the lack of genuine interest or effort in the visit.

a cursory visit

Suggests a quick and superficial examination or interaction.

a formality visit

Indicates the visit is primarily for adhering to protocol or convention.

a gesture visit

Implies the visit is a symbolic act or expression of intent.

a superficial visit

Highlights the lack of depth or meaningful engagement during the visit.

a fleeting visit

Underscores the short and transient nature of the visit.

a quick stop

Emphasizes the brevity and limited engagement of the visit.

a short appearance

Focuses on the brief duration and limited presence of the visit.

FAQs

What does "a token visit" mean?

The phrase "a token visit" refers to a visit that is made primarily for the sake of appearances or to fulfill an obligation, rather than out of genuine interest or engagement. It suggests the visit is brief and perhaps lacks substance.

What can I say instead of "a token visit"?

You can use alternatives like "a brief visit", "a symbolic visit", or "a perfunctory visit depending on the context".

Is "a token visit" a negative expression?

Yes, "a token visit" often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the visit was not particularly meaningful or sincere. It suggests the visit was more about fulfilling an obligation than expressing genuine interest.

How to use "a token visit" in a sentence?

You can use "a token visit" to describe a situation where someone makes a visit primarily for appearances. For example: "The politician made "a token visit" to the disaster area, but didn't offer any real assistance."