The meaning of SYMBOLIC is using, employing, or exhibiting a symbol. How to use symbolic in a sentence.

Symbolic meanings are constructed through historical traditions, articulated contextually and reproduced only in practice.

Serving as a particular instance of a broader pattern or situation; representative: The new building is symbolic of the recent changes that have taken place in the neighborhood.

Something that is symbolic of a person or thing is regarded or used as a symbol of them.

SYMBOLIC definition: serving as a symbol of something (often followed byof ). See examples of symbolic used in a sentence.

• The registry is largely symbolic and confers none of the legal rights and obligations of marriage. • But to describe the bill as largely symbolic is not to diminish its importance.

Definition of symbolic adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. containing symbols, or being used as a symbol. He shook his fist in a symbolic gesture of defiance. The ceremony has a …

Feb 1, 2026 · symbolic (comparative more symbolic, superlative most symbolic) Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there …

symbolic is a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: Latin symbolicus. What is the earliest known use of the word symbolic? The earliest known use of the word symbolic is in the mid 1600s. OED's earliest …

Symbolic refers to something that represents or stands for something else, usually an idea, concept, or complex reality, through the use of symbols or signs. It can pertain to visuals, words, gestures, and …