metaphorical

American  

[met-uh-fawr-i-kuhl, -for-] / ˌmɛt əˈfɔr ɪ kəl, -ˈfɒr- /

Also metaphoric

adjective

1. involving, invoking, or intended to be taken as a metaphor, something used symbolically to represent something else, suggesting a comparison or resemblance.

   Our foreign policy blunder has given the insurgents a metaphorical green light to engage in violent tactics in pursuit of their imperial ambitions.

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Other Word Forms

• metaphoricalness
  noun
• hypermetaphoric
  adjective
• hypermetaphorical
  adjective
• nonmetaphoric
  adjective
• nonmetaphorical
  adjective
• semimetaphoric
  adjective
• semimetaphorical
  adjective
• submetaphoric
  adjective
• submetaphorical
  adjective
• metaphorically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of metaphorical

First recorded in 1560–70; metaphor ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

Explanation

Something is metaphorical when you use it to stand for, or symbolize, another thing. For example, a dark sky in a poem might be a metaphorical representation of sadness. You'll find yourself using the adjective metaphorical all the time if you take a poetry class; poems are usually full of metaphors. People use metaphorical language in everyday speech too, like when you say something like, "My brain is foggy today." Metaphorical comes from the Greek word meaning "a transfer," metaphora, which is itself made up of meta, "over," and pherein, "to carry."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

metaphorical

The biggest hits sand down the rough-hewn edges of Mama’s metaphorical front porch to up their resale value, perhaps never funnier than Luke Bryan’s bullet-point summer vacation on “Fish, Hunt, Golf, Drink.”

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026

If the truck and the Walkman were metaphorical beacons, a modest gold, rope necklace and Jeff Kent’s mustache were concealed anchors even when in plain sight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Six decades later, taxpayers spend well over $1 trillion a year to prosecute this metaphorical war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

According to the researchers, this means the artistry behind piano tone is not merely metaphorical or subjective.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026

“Right, but surely you must have thought about what happens to them, I mean as characters, I mean independent of their metaphorical meanings or whatever.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Related Words

• allegorical
• descriptive
• metaphoric
• symbolic