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. Compare symbolist ( defs 3b, 4b ).
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

Pro-Palestinian campus protests tended to include a diversity of students, including many Muslims and Jews, and demonstrators were often accused of using antisemitic language or symbolism as they pushed for universities to divest from Israel.

From Los Angeles Times

This suggests a "hybrid" nature of these death whistle sounds, combining a basic psychoaffective influence on listeners with more elaborate mental processes of sound symbolism, signifying the iconographic nature.

From Science Daily

It swings from one extreme to another, matching Coppola’s grandiose gestures toward futurism, ancient history, symbolism, theatrical performance — and, at the heart of it all, love.

From Los Angeles Times

Because I’ll admit, I didn't always understand the power of symbolism.

From Salon

Trump, as a White man, also possesses great meaning and power in the symbolism and historical meaning of his body and power.

From Salon

Related Words

• metaphor