symbolism

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The use of symbols to represent ideas, qualities, or concepts, especially in art, literature, or religion.; A late 19th-century artistic and literary movement that emphasized the expression of ideas through symbolic images and indirect suggestion rather than direct statement.; A system of symbols or a collection of symbolic meanings associated with a particular subject, culture, or tradition.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

religious symbolismpolitical symbolismrich in symbolismfull of symbolismheavy symbolismsexual symbolism

Derivatives

symbolsymbolicsymbolicallysymbolizesymbolizationsymbolistsymbology

Synonyms

imageryallegorymetaphorrepresentationsignificationemblemism

Antonyms

literalismliteralness

Commonly confused

symbol
EN: 'Symbol' is an individual sign or mark representing something; 'symbolism' is the broader practice, system, or quality of using symbols.
symbology
EN: 'Symbology' refers to the study or science of symbols; 'symbolism' refers to the use or presence of symbolic meaning.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'symbolism' with 'symbology'; also note the 'y' in 'symbol' is retained before the suffix '-ism'.

💬 Examples

  1. The dove in the painting is an example of symbolism representing peace.

  2. Symbolism in French poetry influenced many modernist writers of the early twentieth century.

  3. The symbolism of colors varies greatly across different cultures.