Face With Thermometer 🤒

A feverish face with a thermometer inserted in its mouth, typically rendered with a red or flushed complexion and an uncomfortable, pained expression. The thermometer is usually bright red or has a red bulb at the tip, emphasizing the "running hot" aspect of fever. This is the definition of looking unwell.

People use this emoji to communicate that they're sick with a fever, flu, or some kind of illness. It's a straightforward, literal way to say "I'm not feeling well" or "I'm running a temperature." In casual messaging, someone might send it to explain why they're canceling plans or working from home. It's also used when someone looks visibly ill or flushed in a photo.

Beyond the literal, the thermometer face sometimes appears in jokes about being "hot" (temperature-wise) or running a fever from stress or anxiety, though this usage is less common. It pairs naturally with other sick-related emojis and contextual messages about health.

Approved as part of Unicode Emoji 1 in 2015, the thermometer face has remained a reliable visual for communicating fever and illness. Most platforms keep the design fairly consistent and immediately recognizable, so there's little confusion about intent.