ideogram
noun
ideo·gram
ˈi-dē-ə-ˌgram 
ˈī-
1
: a picture or symbol used in a system of writing to represent a thing or an idea but not a particular word or phrase for it
especially
: one that represents not the object pictured but some thing or idea that the object pictured is supposed to suggest
2
: logogram
Examples of ideogram in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This erroneous belief that all Chinese characters are ideograms — symbols that express ideas directly, without language — remains widespread today in the West.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
The encrusted object clearly qualified as cultural property, even more so when the treasure hunters cleaned it up, revealing that the shining chunk was actually an ingot stamped with Chinese ideograms.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
And as a sign of the ideogram’s lasting appeal, Hadid was photographed in New York City earlier this week wearing a cropped T-shirt with the yellow icon — albeit the brand was unknown.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 11 July 2024
The artist’s small paintings are as dense and provocative as his large ones — tiny worlds full of ideograms, like tarot cards.
—Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
However, using numbers is not allowed under those rules, and using pictures, like an emoji or ideogram, in a name is expressly forbidden.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 26 May 2020
Much like the previous set introduced last year, Emoji 13.0 promotes inclusion and diversity, with ideograms of gender-neutral brides and grooms, Santa Claus, and bottle-feeding parents in various skin tones.
—cleveland, 30 Jan. 2020
Luxurious hotels, casinos, and nightclubs merge with gray buildings, European remains, and Taoist temples, in a city full of ideogram signs, and unmistakable smells and sounds.
—Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2020
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Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
The encrusted object clearly qualified as cultural property, even more so when the treasure hunters cleaned it up, revealing that the shining chunk was actually an ingot stamped with Chinese ideograms.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
And as a sign of the ideogram’s lasting appeal, Hadid was photographed in New York City earlier this week wearing a cropped T-shirt with the yellow icon — albeit the brand was unknown.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 11 July 2024
The artist’s small paintings are as dense and provocative as his large ones — tiny worlds full of ideograms, like tarot cards.
—Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
However, using numbers is not allowed under those rules, and using pictures, like an emoji or ideogram, in a name is expressly forbidden.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 26 May 2020
Much like the previous set introduced last year, Emoji 13.0 promotes inclusion and diversity, with ideograms of gender-neutral brides and grooms, Santa Claus, and bottle-feeding parents in various skin tones.
—cleveland, 30 Jan. 2020
Luxurious hotels, casinos, and nightclubs merge with gray buildings, European remains, and Taoist temples, in a city full of ideogram signs, and unmistakable smells and sounds.
—Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Ideogram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideogram. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ideogram
noun
ideo·gram
ˈīd-ē-ə-ˌgram
ˈid-
1
: a picture or symbol used in a system of writing to represent a thing or an idea but not a particular word or phrase
2
: a character or symbol (as 3) used in a system of writing to represent an entire word but not its individual sounds
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