symbology

noun

sym·​bol·​o·​gy sim-ˈbä-lə-jē 

plural symbologies

1

: the art of expression by symbols

2

: the study or interpretation of symbols

3

: a system of symbols

Examples of symbology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once used primarily for fortune-telling tarot has also evolved into a tool for other forms of mysticism such as storytelling, symbology, holistic reflection, spiritual exploration, and therapeutic self-discovery. —Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

On view through April 5, 2026, Frey’s early photographs, paintings, and drawings–nearly half of which have never been shown publicly–reveal the origins of the rich visual symbology in her large-scale ceramic figures. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 Feb. 2026

Harvard symbology professor Robert Langdon teams with police cryptographer Sophie Neveu to investigate the crime, with Langdon thrown into chaos, quickly becoming the murder investigation’s prime suspect. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026

Its advanced barcode scanning can read any barcode symbology in any orientation placed anywhere on the front of cartons or pallets. —IEEE Spectrum, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

symbol + -logy

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for symbology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology