parable

American  

[par-uh-buhl] / ˈpær ə bəl /

noun

1. a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

   Synonyms:

   apologue, homily, allegory

2. a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.

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parable British  

/ ˈpærəbəl, pəˈræbəlɪst /

noun

1. a short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point

2. any of the stories of this kind told by Jesus Christ

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Other Word Forms

• parabolist noun

Etymology

Origin of parable

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English parabil, from Late Latin parabola “allegory, comparison, word,” from Greek parabolḗ “comparison,” from para- para- ¹ + bolḗ “a throw”

Compare meaning

How does parable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• allegory vs. parable

Example Sentences

Coogler’s period piece-meets-horror parable heads into Sunday’s awards ceremony with a record-breaking 16 nominations to Anderson’s 13 nods for “One Battle.”

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

Nimble and inventive, with convincing special effects work, the film is a charming parable that continually finds ways to reset itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

Inappropriately invoking an overused parable might make Mr. Carney sound clever, but it shows a lack of deep thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Mahapatra compares humanity's limited understanding of the universe -- or lack thereof -- to a well-known parable.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

My father mopped his brow again and launched into the parable of the one mustard seed falling on a barren place, and the other one on good soil.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• fable
• tale