symbolism

[sim-buh-liz-uhm]

noun

1. the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.

2. a set or system of symbols.

3. symbolic meaning or character.

4. the principles and practice of symbolists in art or literature.

5. (initial capital letter),  a movement of the late 19th century in French art and literature.

6. the use of any of certain special figures or marks of identification to signify a religious message or divine being, as the cross for Christ and the Christian faith.

symbolism

/ ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the representation of something in symbolic form or the attribution of symbolic meaning or character to something

2. a system of symbols or symbolic representation

3. a symbolic significance or quality

4. (often capital) a late 19th-century movement in art that sought to express mystical or abstract ideas through the symbolic use of images See also synthetism

5. theol any symbolist interpretation of the Eucharist

Word History and Origins

Origin of symbolism¹

First recorded in 1645–55; symbol + -ism

Example Sentences

If Harvey’s departure from Butcher Babies marked the death of a dream, Violent Hour has triggered a resurrection that resounds with symbolism from her chosen careers.

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“He thinks he has charmed his adversary.. Admittedly he has no idea of the symbolism. He has no idea of most things.”

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All of which brings us back to the scene with the Chinese laborer, and the symbolism of losing the person on the other end of the saw, rendering it useless.

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They are seeking something else: order, symbolism, and a sense of calm in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

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But most of the time, the symbolism of demonic possession violating the “purity” of the small, usually blonde girl is slightly less blunt.

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Related Words

• metaphor