symbolism
noun
sym·bol·ism
ˈsim-bə-ˌli-zəm 
1
a
: artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states
b
: the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits
2
: a system of symbols or representations
Examples of symbolism in a Sentence
The story was filled with religious symbolism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Within Arab circles, especially, the symbolism of a self-immolation is potent: a Tunisian fruit vendor who burned himself to death in 2011 set off pro-democracy rebellions that toppled dictators and upended the Middle East.
—
Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
Residents of Bayamo walked through the city streets in darkness amid a blackout, singing the national anthem, a gesture carrying a strong symbolism as the town is believed to have been the place where independence fighter Perucho Figueredo wrote its lyrics and music in the late 1860s.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
The symbolism of the setting was impossible to ignore.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024
The symbolism of the punishments cannot be overlooked, either.
—Ben Protess, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Ochoa tells the story using the symbolism that Agustini employed in her own writing.
—The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
The struggle for the city – whose symbolism outweighed its strategic importance - encapsulated the slow-moving nature of the ground war, which had grown to resemble the kind of fighting seen in World War One.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024
That symbolism did not go unnoticed, as the video racked up more than 2 million views in just four hours.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024
Such animals were extremely valued among Iron Age Celts and had religious symbolism, which may account for their presence in some graves.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024
Residents of Bayamo walked through the city streets in darkness amid a blackout, singing the national anthem, a gesture carrying a strong symbolism as the town is believed to have been the place where independence fighter Perucho Figueredo wrote its lyrics and music in the late 1860s.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
The symbolism of the setting was impossible to ignore.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024
The symbolism of the punishments cannot be overlooked, either.
—Ben Protess, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Ochoa tells the story using the symbolism that Agustini employed in her own writing.
—The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
The struggle for the city – whose symbolism outweighed its strategic importance - encapsulated the slow-moving nature of the ground war, which had grown to resemble the kind of fighting seen in World War One.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024
That symbolism did not go unnoticed, as the video racked up more than 2 million views in just four hours.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024
Such animals were extremely valued among Iron Age Celts and had religious symbolism, which may account for their presence in some graves.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'symbolism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near symbolism
Cite this Entry
“Symbolism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolism. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
symbolism
noun
sym·bol·ism
ˈsim-bə-ˌliz-əm
1
: the art or practice of using symbols
2
: a system of symbols or representations
Medical Definition
symbolism
noun
sym·bol·ism
ˈsim-bə-ˌliz-əm
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