ambigram

American  

[am-bi-gram] / ˈæm bɪ græm /

noun

1. a representation, typically of a word or number, that when viewed upside down or in mirror image forms the same word or number, or a different word or number, either coincidentally due to the natural form of the characters, as with “swims” or “dollop,” or intentionally, using calligraphy or graphic design.

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Etymology

Origin of ambigram

ambi- ( def. ) + -gram ¹ ( def. ); coined by U.S. cognitive scientist and physicist Douglas R. Hofstadter (born 1945) in his anthology Metamagical Themas (1985)

Example Sentences

Since he hit on the ambigram idea as a teenager, he has made thousands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

The date is also interesting because depending on the way its written, it may form a palindrome, or even an ambigram.

From Fox News • Feb. 22, 2022