Definition

1. Noun:
   • An artistic movement: A late 19th-century movement in art and literature that sought to express abstract, mystical, or emotional ideas not through direct description, but through the use of powerful, often personal, symbols and imagery.
   • The practice of using symbols: The general practice or technique of representing things, ideas, or qualities by means of symbols. It involves investing objects, actions, or events with a meaning that is different from their literal sense.
   • A system of symbols: A set of interconnected symbols and symbolic representations used within a particular context, culture, or work.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Artistic Movement):

  • The poetry of Stéphane Mallarmé is a key example of symbolism, using evocative images to suggest deeper truths.
  • The painter's work shifted from realism to symbolism, focusing on dreams and spirituality.

• Noun (General Practice):

  • The symbolism of the dove representing peace is understood across many cultures.
  • Analyzing the symbolism in the novel reveals themes of freedom and confinement.

• Noun (System of Symbols):

  • The complex symbolism of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs took decades to decipher.
  • Religious rituals are often built upon a rich symbolism of light, water, and sacrifice.

Advanced Usage

• "To be rich in symbolism": To contain many layers of symbolic meaning.

  • The ceremony was rich in symbolism, with every gesture holding a specific meaning.

• "Political/Religious symbolism": The use of symbols within a specific ideological or faith-based context.

  • The choice of location for the speech was loaded with political symbolism.

Variants and Related Words

• Symbol (n): A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

  • The ring was a symbol of their eternal bond.

• Symbolic (adj): Serving as a symbol; characterized by or involving the use of symbols.

  • The handshake was more than polite; it was symbolic of the new agreement.

• Symbolize (v): To be a symbol of; to represent by means of a symbol.

  • The olive branch symbolizes peace.

• Symbolist (n/adj): (A person) relating to the Symbolist movement.

  • He was influenced by the French Symbolist poets.

Synonyms

• Allegory: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. (While related, allegory is often a sustained narrative metaphor, whereas symbolism can be a single image.)
• Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, implying a comparison. (Symbolism often uses metaphors, but a symbol can stand alone without direct comparison.)
• Representation: The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.

Idioms and Phrases

• "A symbol of": This common phrase directly utilizes the core concept.

  • The bald eagle is a symbol of the United States.

• "Steeped in symbolism": Deeply imbued with symbolic meaning.

  • The ancient text is steeped in symbolism, requiring careful interpretation.

Noun

1. an artistic movement in the late 19th century that tried to express abstract or mystical ideas through the symbolic use of images
2. the practice of investing things with symbolic meaning
3. a system of symbols and symbolic representations