ideograph

American  

[id-ee-uh-graf, ahy-dee-] / ˈɪd i əˌgræf, ˈaɪ di- /

noun

1. ideogram.

2. Rhetoric. an ordinary language term that, within a particular ideology, has developed a loose, flexible, nonspecific use that stands for values and ideas present within that ideology, rather than having a specific, concrete meaning.

   In the training materials, is used as an ideograph to reinforce the military hierarchy.

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Other Word Forms

• ideographic adjective
• ideographical adjective
• ideographically adverb
• unideographic adjective
• unideographical adjective
• unideographically adverb

Etymology

Origin of ideograph

First recorded in 1825–35; ideo- + -graph

Example Sentences

Chinese takeaways included writing systems of Chinese ideographs, philosophies such as Confucianism, religions such as Buddhism, medical techniques such as acupuncture, literary classics, martial arts and more.

From Washington Times

The ideograph, in Japanese brush painting, is finding “How do you do a whole bamboo forest in three brush strokes?”

From New York Times

These imaginary ideographs sometimes incorporated snippets of streamlined nature imagery from Green’s black-and-white paintings and were generally rendered in black on a single-hued background.

From Washington Post

“The emoji themselves are ideographs, one of the most ancient ways to communicate,” she said.

From New York Times

“But at the same time, the emoji themselves are ideographs, one of the most ancient ways to communicate. I love how the centuries are connected in that way.”

From New York Times