diagram

American  

[dahy-uh-gram] / ˈdaɪ əˌgræm /

noun

1. a figure, usually consisting of a line drawing, made to accompany and illustrate a geometrical theorem, mathematical demonstration, etc.

2. a drawing or plan that outlines and explains the parts, operation, etc., of something.

   a diagram of an engine.

3. a chart, plan, or scheme.

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verb (used with object)

diagramed, diagrammed, diagraming, diagramming

1. to represent by a diagram; make a diagram of.

diagram British  

/ ˌdaɪəɡrəˈmætɪk, ˈdaɪəˌɡræm /

noun

1. a sketch, outline, or plan demonstrating the form or workings of something

2. maths a pictorial representation of a quantity or of a relationship

   a Venn diagram

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verb

1. to show in or as if in a diagram

Other Word Forms

• diagrammable adjective
• diagrammatic adjective
• diagrammatically adverb
• misdiagrammed adjective
• undiagramed adjective
• undiagrammed adjective

Etymology

Origin of diagram

1610–20; < Latin diagramma < Greek: that which is marked out by lines. See dia-, -gram ¹

Example Sentences

I probably don’t need to draw you a diagram.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

On stage, he wore a striped suit and scribbled a diagram on a chalkboard explaining a crypto concept called “tokenization.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

When every sentence, symbol and diagram is converted into braille, each test booklet becomes six to nine times thicker than the standard equivalent.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

Physicists describe a car traveling straight at constant speed with a simple spacetime diagram: position on one axis, time on the other.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

He’d sketched a neat diagram of the light board and was watching Mr. Partridge flip switches.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead