symbolic
Americanadjective
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serving as a symbol of something (often followed byof ).
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of, relating to, or expressed by a symbol.
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characterized by or involving the use of symbols.
a highly symbolic poem.
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(in semantics, especially formerly) pertaining to a class of words that express only relations.
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Computers. expressed in characters, usually nonnumeric, that require translation before they can be used (opposed to absolute).
adjective
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of or relating to a symbol or symbols
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serving as a symbol
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characterized by the use of symbols or symbolism
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of symbolic
First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin symbolicus, from Greek symbolikós; see symbol, -ic
Explanation
When one thing represents something else that's more abstract, it is symbolic, like a cowboy's black hat in western films is symbolic of his sinister intentions. Images and designs on flags are often symbolic of something about a country, for instance, New Zealand's flag shows four stars that are symbolic of the constellation Crux. We're not sure exactly where the word symbolic came from, because several languages have similar words with similar meanings. The word could have come from the French symbolique, the Latin symbolicus, or the Greek sumbolikos.
Vocabulary lists containing symbolic
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People keep assigning him symbolic roles: first Muslim senator, Muslim socialist, proof of Democratic radicalism, proof of Muslim political progress.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
But having an awards show that celebrates television presented on a streaming platform behind a pay wall would be a major symbolic statement that traditional viewing on the networks has lost its cultural relevance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Premodern “portrayals of the face,” Ms. Bound-Alberti writes, “were formulaic and symbolic, representing characters and ideals, or social and religious importance, rather than what a person really looked like.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The "symbolic choice of venue" is in tribute to former England player Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d'Or.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
While hardly an earthshaking question, it had symbolic significance because of the obsessive American suspicion of monarchy, which haunted all conversations about the powers of the presidency under the recently ratified Constitution.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
