symbolic

American  

[sim-bol-ik] / sɪmˈbɒl ɪk /

Sometimes symbolical

adjective

1. serving as a symbol of something (often followed byof ).

2. of, relating to, or expressed by a symbol.

3. characterized by or involving the use of symbols.

   a highly symbolic poem.

4. (in semantics, especially formerly) pertaining to a class of words that express only relations.

5. Computers. expressed in characters, usually nonnumeric, that require translation before they can be used (absolute ).

---

symbolic British  

/ sɪmˈbɒlɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a symbol or symbols

2. serving as a symbol

3. characterized by the use of symbols or symbolism

---

Other Word Forms

• nonsymbolic adjective
• nonsymbolical adjective
• nonsymbolically adverb
• nonsymbolicalness noun
• symbolically adverb
• symbolicalness noun
• unsymbolic adjective
• unsymbolical adjective
• unsymbolically adverb

Etymology

Origin of symbolic

First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin symbolicus, from Greek symbolikós; symbol, -ic

Example Sentences

French-language newspaper El Watan said the "symbolic" visit was "of great historical significance in a country where ancient Christian memory coexists with the Muslim reality of today".

From Barron's

But the official trip to Algeria, which will see Leo visit Algiers and Annaba from April 13 to 15, will be particularly symbolic.

From Barron's

The symbolic scene in part captures the struggles of the detainees' relatives.

From Barron's

But in some ways, the defeat—for all its symbolic weight in the dynamic between two branches of government—wasn’t total.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many blacks were inspired by his campaigns less because of his ideology than because of his symbolic demonstration that a black candidate could aspire to be President, and come close to winning a party nomination.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• allegorical
• emblematic
• figurative
• significant
• symptomatic
• token
• typical