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The combining form -gram is used like a suffix that has three distinct senses.

The first of these senses is “something written” or “drawing” and this form of -gram is frequently used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. This meaning of -gram comes from Greek ����á������, meaning “something written or drawn.”

The second of these senses is “gram,” as in “one-thousandth of a kilogram,” and this form of -gram is occasionally used in a variety of technical terms. This meaning of -gram also ultimately comes from Greek ����á������ but in the sense of “a small weight.”

The third of these senses is “message; bulletin.” This form of -gram is very occasionally used in a variety of technical terms, and its meaning is extracted from telegram. Find out more about the word telegram at our entry for the word.

One example of a technical term that uses the form -gram is dactylogram, also known as “a fingerprint.”

The dactylo- part of the word means “finger,” from Greek ��á��ٲ���Dz�. As we have seen, -gram means “drawing.” Dactylogram literally translates to “drawing of a finger.”

What are some words that use the combining form -gram?

• anagram (using the equivalent form of -gram in Latin)
• arteriogram
• electrogram
• pentagram (using the equivalent form of -gram in Greek)
• pictogram
• seismogram

What are some other forms that -gram may be commonly confused with?

• -gamy
• -graph

The combining form seismo- means “earthquake.” With this in mind, what does seismogram literally mean?