What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
idiogram
Example
The Chinese language uses idiograms to represent words and concepts. [idiogram: noun]
Example
The geneticist used an idiogram to analyze the patient's DNA. [idiogram: noun]
ideograph
Example
The heart symbol is an ideograph that represents love. [ideograph: noun]
Example
Japanese writing uses a combination of ideographs and phonetic characters. [ideograph: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ideograph is more commonly used than idiogram in everyday language. Ideograph is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while idiogram is less common and has a more specialized usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between idiogram and ideograph?
Both idiogram and ideograph have technical and scientific connotations, but idiogram is more specialized and formal due to its usage in genetics and biology.