Peacesign

Peacesign, commonly written as peace sign, is an emblem used to express pacifism and opposition to war. The symbol is a circle enclosing a vertical line with two arms slanting downward to the sides, a form derived from the semaphore signals for N and D (nuclear disarmament). It was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

After its first appearance in posters during the late 1950s, the symbol spread across borders and became closely associated with the 1960s anti-war movement, counterculture, and civil rights advocacy. It quickly entered mainstream culture and has remained a widely recognized emblem of peace and protest.

In addition to the graphic emblem, the peace sign is also recognized as a hand gesture formed by raising the index and middle fingers in a V shape. The gesture has its own history and can carry different meanings in different cultures, including connotations of peace, victory, or insult depending on orientation and context.

Today the peace sign appears in art, fashion, media, and humanitarian campaigns, and it remains a universal shorthand for pacifism. Variants in color, size, and simplification persist, but the symbol’s core message—opposition to violence and nuclear arms—continues to underpin its use across diverse movements and communities.