iconography

noun

ico·​nog·​ra·​phy ˌī-kə-ˈnä-grə-fē How to pronounce iconography (audio)
plural iconographies
1
: the traditional or conventional images or symbols associated with a subject and especially a religious or legendary subject
2
: pictorial material relating to or illustrating a subject
3
: the imagery or symbolism of a work of art, an artist, or a body of art
4

Did you know?

If you saw a 17th-century painting of a man writing at a desk with a lion at his feet, would you know you were looking at St. Jerome, translator of the Bible, who, according to legend, once pulled a thorn from the paw of a lion, which thereafter became his devoted friend? And if a painting showed a young woman reclining on a bed with a shower of gold descending on her, would you recognize her as Danaë, locked up in a tower to keep her away from the lustful Zeus, who then managed to gain access to her by transforming himself into golden light (or golden coins)? An iconographic approach to art can make museum-going a lot of fun—and amateur iconographers know there are also plenty of symbols lurking in the images that advertisers bombard us with daily.

Examples of iconography in a Sentence

the iconography of the 1960s
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the Ralph Lauren alum first set up shop in New York City’s West Village in 2001, the shrunken gray flannel ensembles shook up the fashion world and have now become part of the brand’s design iconography. Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 18 July 2025 In the years since, Trump has repeatedly posted memes that include QAnon iconography. Donie O'Sullivan, CNN Money, 16 July 2025 Some supporters have called for more Everton iconography inside the stadium. Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 7 July 2025 Taller Marmo’s founders Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea previously paid tribute to the iconography of Helmut Newton and Slim Aarons in the brand’s resort 2025 and spring 2025 campaigns, respectively. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for iconography

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin īconographia "making of images," borrowed from Greek eikonographía "sketch, description" (Late Greek, "making of images"), from eikono- icono- + -graphia -graphy

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of iconography was in 1678

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Iconography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconography. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on iconography

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!