parable

American  

[par-uh-buhl] / ˈpær ə bəl /

noun

1. a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

   Synonyms:

   apologue, homily, allegory

2. a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.

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parable British  

/ ˈpærəbəl, pəˈræbəlɪst /

noun

1. a short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point

2. any of the stories of this kind told by Jesus Christ

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Other Word Forms

• parabolist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of parable

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English parabil, from Late Latin parabola “allegory, comparison, word,” from Greek parabolḗ “comparison,” from para- para- ¹ + bolḗ “a throw”

Compare meaning

How does parable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• allegory vs. parable

Explanation

A parable is a short and simple story that teaches a religious or moral lesson. The parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the Prodigal Son are just two examples of the many parables attributed to Jesus, as recorded in the four gospels. Parable descends from the Greek parabolē, "a comparison, analogy," from paraballein, "to compare," from the prefix para-, "beside," plus ballein, "to throw." The sense of comparing, or throwing an idea beside another, is at the heart of the word. When you hear a parable, you're meant to use the comparison to learn how to act — the fox's "sour grapes" are compared to your own downgrading of the thing you cannot have.

Example Sentences

Warren Buffett’s mentor Benjamin Graham used the parable of a business owner with an emotionally unstable partner, “Mr. Market.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

In Matthew’s Gospel the virtuous figure of the parable is the first son, the one who initially refused his father’s instructions but then did his will after all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Nimble and inventive, with convincing special effects work, the film is a charming parable that continually finds ways to reset itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

Mahapatra compares humanity's limited understanding of the universe -- or lack thereof -- to a well-known parable.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

Standing there, feeling the eyes of the two hundred Muslims upon me, I heard him make a parable about me.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• fable
• tale