figurative

[ fig-yer-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a metaphor; metaphorical and not literal:

   The word "head" has several figurative senses, as in "She's the head of the company."

   Synonyms: metaphorical, symbolic

2. metaphorically so called:

   His remark was a figurative boomerang.

3. abounding in or fond of figures of speech:

   Elizabethan poetry is highly figurative.

   Synonyms: grandiloquent, florid, elaborate, flowery, ornamental, ornate

4. representing by means of a figure or likeness, as in drawing or sculpture.
5. representing by a figure or emblem; emblematic.

figurative

/ ˈfɪɡərətɪv /

adjective

1. of the nature of, resembling, or involving a figure of speech; not literal; metaphorical
2. using or filled with figures of speech
3. representing by means of an emblem, likeness, figure, etc
4. (in painting, sculpture, etc) of, relating to, or characterized by the naturalistic representation of the external world

Derived Forms

• ˈfigurativeness, noun
• ˈfiguratively, adverb

Other Words From

• fig·ur·a·tive·ly adverb
• fig·ur·a·tive·ness noun
• non·fig·ur·a·tive adjective
• non·fig·ur·a·tive·ness noun
• sem·i·fig·ur·a·tive adjective
• sem·i·fig·ur·a·tive·ness noun
• un·fig·ur·a·tive adjective
• un·fig·ur·a·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of figurative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English figuratif, fygurative, from Old French figuratif, from Late Latin figūrātīvus; figure ( def ), -ative

Example Sentences

Bauer literally had a Rosebud moment, but may not have had a figurative one.

From The Daily Beast

No, says the confused C.K, who expected the figurative nature of his statement to be obvious.

From The Daily Beast

Cheshire is less interested in the literal, chromosomal answer than the figurative one.

From The Daily Beast

In that moment, Will has fully embraced the figurative dark side.

From The Daily Beast

In a figurative way, palimpsest refers to an object or place that reflects its own history.

From The Daily Beast

To use your figurative language, when this wormeaten monarchy is broken, what will come out of the ruins?

From Project Gutenberg

There is a generally accepted division of language into literal and figurative.

From Project Gutenberg

When a person says, “He is a bright boy,” he has used the word “bright” in a sense that is not literal; the use is figurative.

From Project Gutenberg

Figurative language employs words with meanings not strictly literal, but varying from their ordinary definitions.

From Project Gutenberg

The concentrations are figurative, but may be taken to represent actual concentrations, such as 0.015 molar, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allegorical
• descriptive
• fanciful
• florid
• metaphoric
• metaphorical
• pictorial