Meaning & use
symbolic
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Standing for an idea or quality, so that it means more than what it literally is.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be; often followed by of: The dove is symbolic of peace.
Patterns
- be symbolic of something
- a symbolic meaning
The dove is symbolic of peace in many cultures.
The broken mirror in the story is symbolic of her fractured identity.
For the family, the old oak tree was deeply symbolic of their roots.
adjectivebefore a noun
Done to show an attitude or make a point, without having a real practical effect.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a symbolic gesture. It often hints that the action changes little in practice.
Patterns
- a symbolic gesture
- symbolic value
The council made a symbolic gesture by flying the flag at half-mast.
He paid a symbolic fee of one dollar for the building.
The vote was largely symbolic, since the law could not be changed.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Using symbols, such as signs, letters or figures, to represent things.
Grammar: A technical use before a noun: symbolic logic, symbolic notation.
Patterns
- symbolic logic
- symbolic notation
Mathematics uses symbolic notation to write ideas briefly.
She studied symbolic logic at university.
Early writing was often symbolic rather than based on sound.
Common combinations
- symbolic gesture
- The mayor's visit was only a symbolic gesture of support.
- symbolic meaning
- Colors often carry symbolic meaning in festivals.
- symbolic of something
- The empty chair was symbolic of the missing family member.
- deeply symbolic
- The handshake between the two leaders was deeply symbolic.
- purely symbolic
- The fine was purely symbolic and did not hurt the company.
Synonyms and how they differ
- emblematic
- Emblematic means typical of a larger idea or group, and it fits when something sums up a whole situation rather than quietly standing for an idea.
- figurative
- Figurative describes language that is not literal, while symbolic describes objects or actions that stand for something.
- representative
- Representative means typical of a group, whereas symbolic means standing for an idea or feeling.
- token
- Token as an adjective suggests the thing is a small effort made for show, which is more critical than symbolic.
Opposites
Word family
- symbol noun
- a thing that stands for something else
- symbolize verb
- to stand for or represent an idea
- symbolism noun
- the use of symbols to express ideas
- symbolically adverb
- in a way that stands for something
Commonly confused: symbolic or symmetrical?
symbolic vs symmetrical
Symmetrical means having matching halves, with nothing to do with standing for an idea, though the sounds are similar.
Practice
The government's apology was mostly ___, because it came with no money or new policy.
Choose one answer.
Symbolic fits an action that shows an attitude but changes little in practice. Practical and effective would mean the opposite, and literal does not describe an apology.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “symbolic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.