aniconism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low FrequencyAcademic / Technical (Specialist)
Quick answer
What does “aniconism” mean?
The opposition to the use of idols or images in religious worship, often as a principle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The opposition to the use of idols or images in religious worship, often as a principle.
Any strong cultural, religious, or artistic practice that avoids or rejects the use of representational images or symbols, or the abstract style resulting from such avoidance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or usage differences. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Purely academic; no regional connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both dialects, confined to specialist texts.
Grammar
How to Use “aniconism” in a Sentence
Aniconism + in + (religious tradition)Aniconism + of + (group/era)The principle/doctrine/practice + of + aniconismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aniconism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sect does not aniconise its places of worship; it simply avoids figural art altogether.
- Historians debate when the community first began to aniconise its artistic tradition.
American English
- The community does not aniconize its sacred spaces; it simply avoids representational art altogether.
- Scholars argue about when the culture began to aniconize its visual language.
adverb
British English
- The temple was decorated aniconically, using only geometric patterns.
- They expressed their faith aniconically.
American English
- The space was decorated aniconically, using only abstract forms.
- They worshipped aniconically.
adjective
British English
- The tradition holds aniconic principles at its core.
- We studied the aniconic phase of their artistic development.
American English
- The tradition has aniconic principles at its core.
- We studied the aniconic period in their artistic history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Standard term in religious studies, art history, and anthropology for describing traditions that reject figural representation.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
Correct and precise term within its fields of use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “aniconism”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aniconism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aniconism”
- Using it as a synonym for 'iconoclasm'.
- Misspelling as 'aniconicism'.
- Using it in general conversation where simpler terms like 'ban on images' would suffice.
- Pronouncing the third syllable with a hard /k/ sound like 'con' instead of the softer /s/ or /ɪ/ sound in the standard pronunciation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Aniconism is a doctrine or practice of avoiding or rejecting the use of images (especially in religion). Iconoclasm is the active destruction or rejection of existing images. Aniconism is a principle; iconoclasm is often an action.
Aniconism is a significant principle in Islam (particularly in mosques), Judaism (especially in synagogues), some branches of Protestant Christianity (e.g., Calvinism), and was central to Byzantine Iconoclasm. It also appears in some ancient Near Eastern and Greek traditions.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized academic term. You will almost never encounter it in everyday conversation, news, or general writing.
Yes, in an extended sense, it can describe any cultural or artistic movement that deliberately avoids representational imagery, favouring abstract or symbolic forms, though the religious context is primary.
The opposition to the use of idols or images in religious worship, often as a principle.
Aniconism is usually academic / technical (specialist) in register.
Aniconism: in British English it is pronounced /æˈnɪkənɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /æˈnaɪkəˌnɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'A-NO-icon-ism' — a belief saying NO to icons.
Conceptual Metaphor
PURITY IS THE ABSENCE OF IMAGES (e.g., a pure faith is an imageless faith).
Practice
Quiz
Aniconism is most closely associated with which of the following fields?