symbolic
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Pertaining to a symbol.
Adjective
Examples
Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Implicitly representing or referring to another thing.
Adjective
Examples
a symbolic gesture
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “symbolic” mean?
Pertaining to a symbol.
Is “symbolic” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.