iconography
noun
Did you know?
If you saw a 17th-century painting of a man writing at a desk with a lion at his feet, would you know you were looking at St. Jerome, translator of the Bible, who, according to legend, once pulled a thorn from the paw of a lion, which thereafter became his devoted friend? And if a painting showed a young woman reclining on a bed with a shower of gold descending on her, would you recognize her as Danaë, locked up in a tower to keep her away from the lustful Zeus, who then managed to gain access to her by transforming himself into golden light (or golden coins)? An iconographic approach to art can make museum-going a lot of fun—and amateur iconographers know there are also plenty of symbols lurking in the images that advertisers bombard us with daily.
Examples of iconography in a Sentence
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025
While the iconography of the franchise carries over, the world and characters themselves are generally reincarnations that can serve the needs of each game’s plot.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
The iconography of the chap indicated social status and power and likely belonged to a specific team or group within the tribe, Młotek told the agency.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
And while having daily goals was nothing new at that point, the design has become an important, and often copied, part of the company’s iconography.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for iconography
Cite this Entry
“Iconography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconography. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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