What does pictogram mean?
A pictogram is a graphic symbol that communicates meaning by depicting an object, action, or idea. It is especially associated with early writing systems, where images could stand for familiar things such as animals, people, tools, or significant events before conventional alphabetic writing became established. Pictograms still have practical uses in diagrams, signs, labels, maps, and instructional material because they can convey information quickly and across language barriers. Their exact status is sometimes complicated by the distinction between depicting something and representing a spoken word or abstract concept. A pictogram usually resembles what it signifies, while an ideogram may represent a word or idea without visual resemblance. The term is valuable for understanding writing as a system of meaningful signs rather than merely a sequence of letters, and it also remains relevant to modern visual communication.
nounA pictorial symbol or sign that represents an object, action, or idea, especially in early writing systems. Pictograms communicate meaning through recognizable images rather than alphabetic letters.
- A symbol or sign that represents an object, action, or idea through a recognizable image, especially in early writing systems.
- A graphic sign used in diagrams, labels, maps, or visual communication to convey information without using words.
"The cave painting included pictograms representing animals and hunting scenes."
"Early scribes used pictograms to record transactions and religious offerings."
"The museum guide explained the pictograms carved into the stone beside the entrance."
The standard plural is used when referring to multiple pictorial symbols or signs.
"The tablets contain pictograms that appear to represent animals and farming activities."
Before letters came the picture: pictograms turned objects, animals, and actions into visual messages that could be read across generations.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pictogram come from?
The English word comes through Latin from Greek roots combining piktos, meaning “painted,” and gram, meaning “writing” or “a written sign.” The form developed during the study of ancient inscriptions and was adopted for graphic symbols that represent their referents pictorially. Related English words include picture, pictograph, pictorial, and depict, all reflecting the same broad idea of painted or represented imagery.
Related word forms
How pictogram is actually used
The word is chiefly used in academic discussion of writing systems, archaeology, semiotics, and visual communication. In historical writing systems, the boundary between pictograms and ideograms can overlap, since some signs began as pictures and later came to represent spoken words or concepts.
Easily confused with pictogram
A pictogram depicts the appearance of a thing, whereas an ideogram represents a word, sound, or abstract concept without necessarily resembling it.
A glyph is a written or carved symbol used in a writing system, while a pictogram is a glyph specifically based on a recognizable image.