allegorical

[ al-i-gawr-i-kuhl, -gor- ]

adjective

1. consisting of or pertaining to allegory; of the nature of or containing allegory; figurative:

   an allegorical poem;

   an allegorical meaning.

allegorical

/ ˌælɪˈɡɒrɪkəl /

adjective

1. used in, containing, or characteristic of allegory

Derived Forms

• ˌalleˈgorically, adverb

Other Words From

• al·le·gor·i·cal·ly adverb
• al·le·gor·i·cal·ness noun
• non·al·le·gor·ic adjective
• non·al·le·gor·i·cal adjective
• non·al·le·gor·i·cal·ly adverb
• sem·i·al·le·gor·ic adjective
• sem·i·al·le·gor·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·al·le·gor·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·al·le·gor·i·cal adjective
• un·al·le·gor·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegorical¹

First recorded in 1520–30; equivalent to Late Latin allēgoric(us) (from Greek allēgorikós; allegory, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Comedies that cut through the Peak TV noise are surreal like Atlanta, allegorical like The Good Place, supernatural like What We Do in the Shadows.

From Time

That film is baldly allegorical and obviously satirical, surreal in ways that are haunting even after it’s over.

From Vox

There is no clear before-and-after in this, but there are key episodes and an evolution from portraiture as a natural likeness to portraiture as a symbolic, allegorical and literary form.

From Washington Post

There are many justifiably bold, thought-provoking creative choices in Covenant, but the decision to combine allegorical horror with sadistic realism is not one of them.

From Time

Over time I’ve also realized that the science of that work makes for a pretty good allegorical tale.

From Nautilus

It was around this time that the allegorical artistic genre of the Danse Macabre, or “Dance of the Death,” became popular.

From The Daily Beast

The violence becomes allegorical, too, given how history has, all too often, been forged.

From The Daily Beast

That the allegorical nature of Red Moon speaks to so many issues may be what contributes to an ending where things fall apart.

From The Daily Beast

In an allegorical movie about going to “the zone” to get to “the room” where all your wishes come true.

From The Daily Beast

Her sensuous, penetrating paintings present an allegorical realm, where beauty is eternal and dreams come true.

From The Daily Beast

John was baptizing at a large pool called Ænon-by-Saleim,—probably allegorical, meaning “Fountain of Repose.”

From Project Gutenberg

The descriptions of allegorical personages in this poem are clearly imitated from similar descriptions in Latin poets.

From Project Gutenberg

Some decorations have been added since last year, and an allegorical drop-scene has been painted.

From Project Gutenberg

The Jews, who went out of Egypt, rude as they were, had heard of the allegorical philosophy of the Egyptians.

From Project Gutenberg

On high above the triumphal car was set some allegorical figure, such as Valour, Victory, or Fame.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• figurative
• metaphorical