figurative

[ fig-yer-uh-tiv ]

/ ˈfɪg yər ə tɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR figurative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.”

metaphorically so called: His remark was a figurative boomerang.

abounding in or fond of figures of speech: Elizabethan poetry is highly figurative.

representing by means of a figure or likeness, as in drawing or sculpture.

representing by a figure or emblem; emblematic.

Words nearby figurative

figurant, figurante, figurate, figurate number, figuration, figurative, figurative language, figure, figure and ground, figure eight, figure eight suture

Origin of figurative

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin figūrātīvus (see figure) + -ive; replacing Middle English figuratif < Middle French

OTHER WORDS FROM figurative

fig·ur·a·tive·ly, adverbfig·ur·a·tive·ness, nounnon·fig·ur·a·tive, adjectivenon·fig·ur·a·tive·ly, adverb

non·fig·ur·a·tive·ness, nounsem·i·fig·ur·a·tive, adjectivesem·i·fig·ur·a·tive·ly, adverbsem·i·fig·ur·a·tive·ness, nounun·fig·ur·a·tive, adjectiveun·fig·ur·a·tive·ly, adverbun·fig·ur·a·tive·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH figurative

figuratively literally virtually (see usage note at literally)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for figurative

Bauer literally had a Rosebud moment, but may not have had a figurative one.
We All Have a Rosebud in Our Pasts|Sam Roberts|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, says the confused C.K, who expected the figurative nature of his statement to be obvious.
The Movement for Patient Access to Doctors’ Notes Is Growing|Janelle Dumalaon|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cheshire is less interested in the literal, chromosomal answer than the figurative one.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Dec. 2, 2013|Mythili Rao and Thomas Flynn, Mythili Rao, Thomas Flynn|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In that moment, Will has fully embraced the figurative dark side.
In The Good Wife’s Explosive ‘Hitting the Fan,’ That’s Exactly What Happens|Chancellor Agard|October 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

In a figurative way, palimpsest refers to an object or place that reflects its own history.
The Thief of Words: Starling Lawrence|Jill Bialosky|October 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mark Twain wanted to point out the absurdity of taking the allegories and the figurative language of the Bible literally.
Mark Twain|Archibald Henderson
He adds that an intelligent Indian once suggested that this was a figurative representation of the revolution of the seasons.
Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-Lore|J. Walter Fewkes
But he has some defects; in his Essay on the Human Understanding he is often too figurative for the subject.
Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 2|Henry Hallam
By way of further expression of the same idea, Aristotle passes into figurative language.
A Critical History of Greek Philosophy|W. T. Stace
If Ryanne laughed in his sleeve, Mahomed certainly found ample room in his for such silent and figurative cachinnations.
The Carpet from Bagdad|Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for figurative

figurative

/ (ˈfɪɡərətɪv) /

adjective

of the nature of, resembling, or involving a figure of speech; not literal; metaphorical

using or filled with figures of speech

representing by means of an emblem, likeness, figure, etc

(in painting, sculpture, etc) of, relating to, or characterized by the naturalistic representation of the external world

Derived forms of figurative

figuratively, adverbfigurativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

figurative

adjective

Content related to figurative

Words related to figurative

Words nearby figurative

Origin of figurative

OTHER WORDS FROM figurative

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH figurative

Examples from the Web for figurative

British Dictionary definitions for figurative

adjective

Derived forms of figurative