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

They formed their own women's circuit, signing a symbolic $1 contract to compete in a tournament in Texas.

From BBC

Sanctions are largely symbolic, with little expected impact on U.S. defense stocks, as most do minimal business with China.

From Barron's

Sanctions are largely symbolic, with little expected impact on U.S. defense stocks, as most do minimal business with China.

From Barron's

Habsburg universalism rested on the Catholic Church, the symbolic order of the Holy Roman Empire and the use of Latin as the “neutral language of administration.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The move is largely symbolic because U.S. defense contractors generally do little business in China.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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