Editing Monogram (section)

{{Short description|Motif made by overlapping two or more letters}}
{{Distinguish|Monograph|Nomogram}}
{{Other uses}}

[[File:Sarcophage de Drausin 03 chrisme.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The [[Chi-Rho]], a monogram of the first two letters of the Greek word for [[Christ (title)|Christ]]]]

A '''monogram''' is a [[motif (visual arts)|motif]] made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other [[grapheme]]s to form one [[symbol]]. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or [[logo]]s. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a cypher (e.g. a [[royal cypher]]) and is not a monogram.<ref>The [[Shorter Oxford English Dictionary]] (Fifth edition; 2002) defines it as a "device composed of two or more letters... interwoven together." Volume 1, p. 1820.</ref>

Many of today's monograms are embroidered on items for the home like towels, bedding, robes etc.