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

So very early on, it was very obvious in “The Lion King” that the circle is the ideograph: The Circle of Life.

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022

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

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022

I looked for what I call an ideograph, which is to take the entire concept of the story—a road movie, what is that?

From Slate • Sep. 30, 2020

Behind her on the crowded stage spread a vast grey-blue cloth backdrop, on which was emblazoned a huge red Chinese ideograph meaning victory.

From Time Magazine Archive

I walked putting heel down first, toes pointing outward thirty to forty degrees, making the ideograph “eight,” making the ideograph “human.”

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston