/ænˈaɪkəˌnɪzəm/
From Greek an- (privative alpha, "not") + eikōn ("image"), meaning the absence of images. The term refers to the prohibition or avoidance of the use of idols or images of sentient beings in certain religious contexts.
Aniconism is the principle, rooted in the Second Commandment, that forbids the creation and worship of "graven images" or any likeness of anything in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:4). The core idea is that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and cannot be accurately or adequately represented by a physical form. To attempt to do so is to reduce the infinite Creator to the level of finite creation, leading to idolatry and a distorted understanding of His nature.
The term "aniconism" is not present in Webster's 1828 dictionary. The related concept is found under Idolatry: "The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God." And Image: "An idol; a statue; a likeness of any person or thing, material or immaterial; particularly, a statue or picture of a celestial being, used as an object of worship."
In modern times, the principle of aniconism is often either ignored or diluted. While few modern Christians bow to physical statues, idolatry has taken more subtle forms. The corruption lies in creating mental or conceptual "images" of God that conform to personal desires or cultural trends—a god of therapeutic comfort, a god of political affirmation, or a god who endorses materialism. This is a violation of the same principle: creating a god in our own image rather than conforming ourselves to His revealed nature.