representational

[ rep-ri-zen-tey-shuh-nl, -zuhn- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to representation.
2. representing or depicting an object in a recognizable manner:

   representational art.

representational

/ ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. fine arts depicting or attempting to depict objects, scenes, figures, etc, directly as seen; naturalistic
2. of or relating to representation

Other Words From

• unrep·re·sen·tation·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of representational¹

First recorded in 1850–55; representation + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The real problem is the very structure of what we call democracy, which enables elites to interfere before elections, during elections and after elections, because we have a representational voting system.

From Salon

Certainly, this representational role is a dimension of the presidency with which he has seemed at ease.

From BBC

They tend to have a much harder time ascending the stratified ranks of culture and politics, becoming the published authors and elected officials who might provide representational equality.

From Salon

He tried to use Euler’s circles to illustrate Boole’s algebra of truth-values, but Euler’s representational system would not quite do the trick.

From Salon

That representational burden is a continually simmering undercurrent in “Young Woman and the Sea.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• descriptive
• illustrated
• photographic
• visual
• vivid