Logomark

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A distinctive graphic symbol or emblem that visually represents and identifies a company, brand, or organization
2. A graphical mark or icon designed to symbolize and distinguish a business, institution, or entity through a memorable visual identity
3. A recognizable pictorial or abstract symbol that serves as the visual identifier and trademark for a corporation or organization

Etymology: "Logomark" is a plain compound: "logo" joined to "mark," with no mystery about its parts. The first element, "logo," is itself a shortened form of "logotype," a word for a single piece of type cast as one unit that carries a company's name or emblem. "Mark" is the old English word for a sign or identifying symbol, so the compound names a distinctive sign that stands for a brand. The useful way to read it is as a label for the symbol alone, separate from the wordmark spelled out in letters. A logomark is the picture or abstract shape that identifies a company, such as a swoosh or an apple, while the company's name set in a particular typeface is what designers would call the wordmark. The two terms make it possible to talk about the mark on its own, which is why the word is mostly used in branding and design work.

Synonyms: logo, trademark, emblem