metaphorical
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing metaphorical
Reading: Literature - High School
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Imagery, Figures of Speech, and Tone
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Anything But Typical
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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.
And yet the language we use to describe space-time is often vague, metaphorical and deeply inconsistent.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
“Have we been knocked off our metaphorical surfboard from time to time? Of course.”
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Matching the level of support at Wimbledon in 1973 will take some doing because, as in any workplace, there will be players prepared to cross a metaphorical picket line outside the entrance to Centre Court.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
The metaphorical framework is an obvious fit for corporate life: defined roles and aligned priorities lead to collective success.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
If so, the writing could not be fundamentally pictographic or metaphorical; rather, most of the symbols must stand for letters or syllables.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
