Meanings
plural Venn diagrams
- mathematicsA diagram representing some sets by contours of closed shapes, such as circles or ellipses (and sometimes also the universal set as a rectangle enclosing all of these shapes), and indicating the relationships between the sets: by overlapping the shapes to show that the corresponding sets have a non-empty intersection, and by possibly (but not necessarily) enclosing all of the sets (which are proper subsets of the universal set) within a universal set (represented typically by a rectangle); such that the total number of simply connected regions is 2ⁿ, where n is the number of depicted sets which are proper subsets of the universal set.
- broadlyThe intersection of two or more things.
[…]the gobal “mind, body and energy healing” market size […] was estimated at nearly $80bn in 2023 and is projected to grow year on year at 26 per cent to 2030. And the Venn diagram between this world and that of real estate and architecture is increasing.
2025 April 26, Rebecca Newman, “Spirited Away”, in FT Weekend (House & Home section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 11 more example
The overlapping section of the Venn diagram of Phillies fans and mystery meat aficionados probably already knows this, but the Phils’ beloved Dollar Dog Nights appeared to be over for the season (for the uninitiated, that’s when glizzies go on sale for a buck).
2022 May 23, Nick Vadala, “’Dogs back again”, in The Philadelphia Inquirer, 193rd year, number 357, page B3
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna diagram that uses circles to represent mathematical or logical sets pictorially inside a rectangle (the universal set); elements that are common to more than one set are represented by intersections of the circles
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Named after British mathematician and philosopher John Venn (1834–1923).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 文氏圖 /文氏图, 維恩圖 /维恩图
- 文氏圖 /文氏图 (wénshìtú)diagram representing sets by circles
- 維恩圖 /维恩图 (wéi'ēntú)diagram representing sets by circles
Czech Vennův diagram
- Vennův diagramdiagram representing sets by circles
Dutch venndiagram
- venndiagramdiagram representing sets by circles
Esperanto Venn-a diagramo
- Venn-a diagramodiagram representing sets by circles
Finnish Venn-diagrammi
- Venn-diagrammidiagram representing sets by circles
French diagramme de Venn
- diagramme de Venndiagram representing sets by circles
German Venn-Diagramm
- Venn-Diagrammdiagram representing sets by circles
Hungarian Venn-diagram
- Venn-diagramdiagram representing sets by circles
Icelandic Venn-mynd
- Venn-mynddiagram representing sets by circles
Italian diagramma di Eulero-Venn
- diagramma di Eulero-Venndiagram representing sets by circles
Japanese ベン図
- ベン図 (Ben-zu)diagram representing sets by circles
Korean 벤 다이어그램
- 벤 다이어그램 (ben daieogeuraem)diagram representing sets by circles
Polish diagram Venna
- diagram Vennadiagram representing sets by circles
Portuguese diagrama de Venn
- diagrama de Venndiagram representing sets by circles
Russian диагра́мма Ве́нна
- диагра́мма Ве́нна (diagrámma Vénna)diagram representing sets by circles
Spanish diagrama de Venn
- diagrama de Venndiagram representing sets by circles
Swedish Venndiagram
- Venndiagramdiagram representing sets by circles
Tagalog guhiting Venn
- guhiting Venndiagram representing sets by circles
Turkish Venn diyagramı
- Venn diyagramıdiagram representing sets by circles
Cite this entry
Venn diagram. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venn%20diagram
“Venn diagram.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venn%20diagram. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Venn diagram,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venn%20diagram.
Source: Venn diagram on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.