symbolic
Americanadjective
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serving as a symbol of something (often followed byof ).
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of, relating to, or expressed by a symbol.
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characterized by or involving the use of symbols.
a highly symbolic poem.
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(in semantics, especially formerly) pertaining to a class of words that express only relations.
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Computers. expressed in characters, usually nonnumeric, that require translation before they can be used (opposed to absolute).
adjective
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of or relating to a symbol or symbols
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serving as a symbol
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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; see symbol, -ic
Explanation
When one thing represents something else that's more abstract, it is symbolic, like a cowboy's black hat in western films is symbolic of his sinister intentions. Images and designs on flags are often symbolic of something about a country, for instance, New Zealand's flag shows four stars that are symbolic of the constellation Crux. We're not sure exactly where the word symbolic came from, because several languages have similar words with similar meanings. The word could have come from the French symbolique, the Latin symbolicus, or the Greek sumbolikos.
Vocabulary lists containing symbolic
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But those actions seem more symbolic than substantive.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
To answer this, the team examined evidence across four main areas: stone tool production, hunting strategies, symbolic behavior, and social complexity.
From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026
“This symbolic milestone reinforces Tesla’s autonomy lead,” Percoco wrote in a Friday note to clients.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
The effect of allied support isn’t merely symbolic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Obviously a mixture of symbolic and character-based language, the text meandered around the page in no apparent order.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
