ideograph

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

noun

1. ideogram ( def ).
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, <leadership> is used as an ideograph to reinforce the military hierarchy.

Other Words From

• id·e·o·graph·ic [id-ee-, uh, -, graf, -ik, ahy-dee-], id·e·o·graph·i·cal adjective
• id·e·o·graph·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·id·e·o·graph·ic adjective
• un·id·e·o·graph·i·cal adjective
• un·id·e·o·graph·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ideograph¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From New York Times

The way I do drought is it’s a big circle of fabric, and the drought is symbolized by the most simple, reduced ideograph of pulling that circle through the floor hole.

From New York Times

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

The Chinese ideograph for the female “I,” Maxine Kingston says, means slave.

From New York Times

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