Definition of pictogram

The word "pictogram" originated in the mid-20th century as a combination of two roots in the Latin language - "pictus" meaning "painted" and "gramma" meaning "written word." The term was coined by the anthropologist John Collier to describe a form of visual communication that used images to convey meanings, potentially without any accompanying text. This new concept gained popularity in the context of studies in cultural anthropology and archaeology as researchers began to recognize the prevalence and significance of prehistoric images in various societies around the world. Today, the term "pictogram" is widely used in fields such as linguistics, anthropology, and graphic design to refer to symbols and images that can be understood independently of any language.