allegorical

adjective

al·​le·​gor·​i·​cal ˌa-lə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl 

-ˈgär-

1

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of allegory

allegorical paintings

allegorical meanings of images

allegorical symbols of our culture

2

: having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text

allegorically

ˌa-lə-ˈgȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈgär-

adverb

allegoricalness

ˌa-lə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl-nəs 

-ˈgär-

noun

Examples of allegorical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of the biblical references including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day has also been viewed by many as an allegorical commentary on first century Christianity and Rome. —City News Service, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025

The legendary director has set his next film as What Happens At Night, an adaptation of the mysterious allegorical novel by Peter Cameron, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025

But that promise gets fumbled in an allegorical chamber play that grows increasingly tedious. —Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025

When 1984 was published in 1949, the novel was seen as an allegorical take on the Soviet Union. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

allegoric "allegorical" (borrowed from Late Latin allēgoricus, borrowed from Greek allēgorikós, from allēgoría allegory + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for allegorical

• ahistorical
• metaphorical
• oratorical
• unhistorical
• historical
• rhetorical
• sociohistorical