HTML Entity for Minus Tilde (≂)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+2242

HTML Entity for minus-tilde sign (U+2242) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Minus Tilde Entity?

Minus tilde (≂) is the mathematical minus tilde relation at Unicode U+2242. HTML5 provides &esim;. Do not confuse it with tilde operator &sim; (∼) or ASCII ~.

Remember

Character     ≂
Unicode       U+2242
Named entity  &esim;
Hex entity    &#x2242;
Decimal       &#8770;
CSS escape    \2242

Named, hex, decimal, CSS, and a typed character all produce the same glyph: ≂.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Named entity	`&esim;`	HTML markup (preferred)
Direct character	`≂`	UTF-8 HTML text
Hex entity	`≂`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`≂`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\2242`	Stylesheet `content`

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Minus-tilde relation in math	`&esim;`
Need an entity in HTML source	`&esim;`, `≂`, or `≂`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\2242"`
Tilde operator (∼)	Use `&sim;` (U+223C) — not this page
Subtraction / negative numbers	See Minus — `−`

See it

Live Preview

Minus tilde in a short relation and beside lookalikes.

Example A ≂ B

Large glyph ≂

Named entity &esim; → ≂

vs ∼ / ~ ≂ | ∼ | ~

With entities Named: ≂ | Hex: ≂ | Decimal: ≂

Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows minus tilde with named, hex, decimal, and CSS forms. Use View Output or open the live editor.

Named + Hex + Decimal + CSS

Four ways to produce ≂ in a single document.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Minus Tilde (≂)</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\2242";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Named Entity: &esim;</p>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x2242;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#8770;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Relation: A &esim; B</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Named: &esim; is the clearest HTML form and renders ≂.

2. Hex: U+2242 → ≂ in HTML. Same result as the named entity.

3. Decimal: same code point as 8770 → ≂. Same result as hex and named.

4. CSS: use \2242 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ≂ after the paragraph text.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with minus tilde.

Prefer

Use `&esim;`

The named form is clearer than numeric references and is defined in HTML5.

vs ∼

Not tilde operator

&sim; is ∼ (U+223C). &esim; is ≂. Different symbols.

vs ~

Not ASCII tilde

Keyboard ~ is U+007E. Use it for approximation in plain text only when the math symbol is not required.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\2242 belongs in CSS. &esim; / ≂ / ≂ belong in HTML.

Encoding

Declare UTF-8

If you type ≂ directly, keep <meta charset="UTF-8"> so the file is not misread.

Semicolon

End references

Always finish with ; — write &esim;, not &esim.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Minus tilde (U+2242) and its entity forms (&esim;, ≂, ≂, CSS \\2242) are supported in all mainstream browsers with a Unicode-capable font.

✓ Universal support

Minus Tilde (&esim;)

Encode with named, hex, decimal, or CSS escape — or type ≂ directly in UTF-8 HTML.

100% Browser coverage

Google Chrome Supported

Yes

Microsoft Edge Supported

Yes

Mozilla Firefox Supported

Yes

Apple Safari Supported

Yes

Opera Supported

Yes

Internet Explorer IE 9+

Yes*

U+2242 / &esim; Full support

Bottom line: Prefer &esim; in mathematical HTML. Use \\2242 only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: minus tilde is U+2242 (decimal 8770).
HTML: prefer &esim;.
CSS: use \2242 inside content for generated text.
Lookalikes: not ∼ (&sim;) and not ASCII ~.

One line: U+2242 → prefer &esim; (also ≂ / CSS \2242).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display the minus-tilde sign in HTML using entities?

Use &esim; (named), ≂ (hex), ≂ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2242 in the content property. All render ≂. Prefer &esim; in mathematical HTML.

What is the Unicode value for minus tilde?

U+2242 (MINUS TILDE). Hex 2242, decimal 8770. It belongs to the Mathematical Operators block.

Is there a named HTML entity for U+2242?

Yes. HTML5 defines &esim; for ≂.

When should I use this HTML entity?

Use it for mathematical relation notation that needs the minus-tilde symbol (≂), such as equivalence-style relations in scientific or math documents.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+2242?

HTML entities (&esim;, ≂, or ≂) go in markup. The CSS escape \2242 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ≂.

Is ≂ the same as ∼ or ~?

No. Minus tilde is &esim; (≂, U+2242). Tilde operator is &sim; (∼, U+223C). The keyboard tilde is ~ (U+007E). They are different characters.

Did you know?

Minus tilde is Unicode U+2242 (decimal 8770) — MINUS TILDE in Mathematical Operators. HTML5 provides &esim;. It is a relation symbol (≂), not the tilde operator &sim; (∼, U+223C) or the ASCII tilde ~.

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Mari Selvan M P 🔗

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