parable

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A short, simple story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'a parable' or 'parables'.

   Patterns

   • a parable about something
   • tell a parable
   • the parable of the ...

   The teacher told a parable about a lost sheep to show the value of forgiveness.

   Many of Jesus's teachings were in the form of parables.

   The novel can be read as a parable about the dangers of greed.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A story or event that seems to have a hidden meaning or lesson.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively: 'a parable of modern life'.

   Patterns

   • a parable of something

   The rise and fall of the company is a parable of our times.

   Her life became a parable of courage and hope.

Word forms

Common combinations

tell a parable

He told a parable to explain the idea of forgiveness.

a parable about

The parable about the prodigal son is well known.

the parable of the

She read the parable of the good Samaritan.

a modern parable

The film is a modern parable about technology.

Synonyms and how they differ

allegory

An allegory is a longer story where characters and events stand for abstract ideas, while a parable is short and focuses on a single moral lesson.

fable

A fable often uses animals as characters and teaches a practical lesson, whereas a parable typically uses human characters and has a spiritual or moral point.

Word family

parabolic adjective

Relating to or like a parable; also used in mathematics for a curve.

Commonly confused: parable or parabola?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “parable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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