The article reveals the content of the term "graphic-lexical abbreviation" and its relationship with the lexical unit; considers the question of its correlation with the iconic signs of the diagram character; analyzes the possibility of its transition to the full linguistic sign. Graphic-lexical abbreviations accumulate properties of the lexical and graphic abbreviations which are manifested in the peculiarities of their formation and usage in writing and speaking. The graphic-lexical abbreviations may be drawn mainly from English.