aniconism

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/ænˈaɪkənɪzəm/

noun

A prohibition against artists depicting religious figures such as divinities, prophets, or anything that can be worshiped.

Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounaniconism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA prohibition against artists depicting religious figures such as divinities, prophets, or anything that can be worshiped.
  2. uncountableMore broadly, a prohibition against all forms of visual artwork and photography.

Origin

From an- + icon + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 無偶像主義 /无偶像主义, 無偶像論 /无偶像论
  • 無偶像主義 /无偶像主义 (wú'ǒuxiàngzhǔyì)conviction that artists should not depict religious figures
  • 無偶像論 /无偶像论 (wú'ǒuxiànglùn)conviction that artists should not depict religious figures
Dutch aniconisme
  • aniconismeconviction that artists should not depict religious figures
Finnish anikonismi
  • anikonismiconviction that artists should not depict religious figures
French aniconisme
  • aniconismeconviction that artists should not depict religious figures
Portuguese aniconismo
  • aniconismoconviction that artists should not depict religious figures
Spanish aniconismo
  • aniconismoconviction that artists should not depict religious figures

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

insomniac
Cite this entry
APA

aniconism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconism

MLA

“aniconism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aniconism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconism.

Source: aniconism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.