ideogram

[ id-ee-uh-gram, ahy-dee- ]

noun

1. Linguistics. a symbol that represents an idea or object directly rather than a particular word or speech sound, such as an arrow symbol to represent direction. Compare logogram ( def 1 ), phonogram ( def ).
2. a symbol that substitutes for a word or phrase, such as 7, =, or &; a logogram.

ideogram

/ -ˌɡræf; ˈɪdɪəʊˌɡræm; ˈɪdɪəʊˌɡrɑːf /

noun

1. a sign or symbol, used in such writing systems as those of China or Japan, that directly represents a concept, idea, or thing rather than a word or set of words for it
2. any graphic sign or symbol, such as %, @, &, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of ideogram¹

First recorded in 1830–40; ideo- + -gram ¹

Example Sentences

As Norah heads inland she will come across various symbols and ideograms on the surfaces of walls and objects which she’ll jot down in a notebook.

From Washington Post

The common Sumerian ideogram for the name of the Tigris is al-al, an intensified form of al, which means “running” or “rushing”.

From Project Gutenberg

An-na, ideogram for the god of heaven, plus phonetic complement.

From Project Gutenberg

H” gives us a picture of a reed, the late cuneiform character being the ideogram for “kanu” which means a “reed.

From Project Gutenberg

Applied to a settlement, the ideogram would be the equivalent of our 'Fishtown.'

From Project Gutenberg

Further evidence to the same effect is given by the ancient writing, in which the ideogram for king was a star.

From Project Gutenberg