Less-Than or Approximate ⪅

⪅ (U+2A85) is a standard Unicode character that you can copy and paste anywhere text is accepted. This page provides a concise reference with safe tips, internal links, and practical guidance so you can use it reliably across apps and platforms.

What it is and where it’s used: Less-Than or Approximate is part of the Symbols family (block: Supplemental Mathematical Operators). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.

History & usage: LESS-THAN OR APPROXIMATE is a symbol in the Supplemental Mathematical Operators block. Its code point is U+2A85. It belongs to the Common script used in many countries and math texts. In history, this area gathers signs that extend basic math. The name helps identify the symbol for use in formulas. The symbol shows a relation that combines a less-than sign with an approximate idea. It can appear in formulas where a value is not exactly known or where a comparison has a rough bound. In user interfaces, it can convey a close relation or an approximate bound in displays and controls. The usage notes emphasize that common math symbols indicate operations or comparisons in formulas and user interfaces. This makes the symbol useful for editors, calculators, and educational tools. It supports clear communication when precision is not exact. As math notation evolves, users adopt new signs to express meaning quickly. This symbol helps maintain that flow, keeping ideas visible at a glance in dense equations and UI hints.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2A85 in many development tools or editors. Some operating systems provide a character viewer or input palette that lets you search by name or code and insert the glyph into documents.

Display and fallback: if you see an empty box (tofu) or a placeholder rectangle, the active font might not include this codepoint. Switching to a font with broader Unicode coverage or using a fallback font usually fixes the issue. On the web, ensure the page’s font stack includes a general‑purpose fallback.

Related references: browse the Categories for similar characters. When choosing a symbol, prefer the official codepoint for semantic clarity and better compatibility with search, copy, and accessibility tooling.

See our category page for related symbols.