symbol

noun sym·bol \ ˈsim-bəl \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of symbol

1 : an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : creed

2 : something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially : a visible sign of something invisible

the lion is a symbol of courage

3 : an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities

4 : an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed

phallic symbols

5 : an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response

See symbol defined for English-language learners

See symbol defined for kids

Examples of symbol in a Sentence

the traditional physician's symbol of a staff entwined with a snake
the symbol ¶ indicates where a new paragraph should begin

Recent Examples of symbol from the Web

Welcome Baptist Church workers discovered the carving along with an upside down cross and an anarchy symbol burned onto the front columns of the building that houses an addiction recovery group, according to an incident report.

— bradford betz, Fox News, "'Hail Satan' carved into South Carolina Baptist church," 11 July 2018
Less than a year later, the Empire State Building, with 60,000 tons of steel supplied by U.S. Steel, would reach higher than Chrysler to become the enduring symbol of Manhattan.

— jonathan schifman, Popular Mechanics, "The Entire History of Steel," 9 July 2018
The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland, thanks to King James III, who first used the symbol on silver coins issued in 1470.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince William's Super Ornate Outfit in Scotland Is Full of Royal Symbolism," 6 July 2018
Over lunch in midtown Manhattan, a tattoo of an Icelandic compass symbol reveals itself on his right forearm.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "Graham Nash Tells the Wild Tales Behind His Most Enduring Songs," 29 June 2018
Now 103 years dead, Hill remains one of the most iconic faces of the Industrial Workers of the World, informally called the Wobblies, a radical international union that is itself an enduring symbol of militant working-class power.

— kim kelly, Chicago Reader, "The protest songs that drove the Wobblies a century ago are still lighting fires," 26 Apr. 2018
When a viral photo of Devonte crying and hugging a white officer during a protest of police violence thrust the Harts into the national spotlight in 2014, many celebrated the moment as a symbol of hope for racial harmony.

— joe heim and julie tate, chicagotribune.com, "As children begged for help, adoption system failed them," 13 July 2018
When a viral photo of Devonte crying and hugging a white officer during a protest against police violence thrust the Harts into the national spotlight in 2014, many celebrated the moment as a symbol of hope for racial harmony.

— Washington Post, "Abuse, neglect and a system that failed: The tragic lives of the Hart children," 12 July 2018
Some turned their backs on the dignitary, and wore red gloves as a symbol of the bloodshed.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "5 World Leaders Whose Visits to the U.K. Sparked Controversy," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'symbol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of symbol

in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

symbol Synonyms

Synonyms

emblem, ensign, hallmark, logo, totem, trademark;

Related Words

attribute, icon (also ikon), pictograph;

logogram, logograph;

badge, coat of arms, cognizance, crest, insignia, monogram;

colophon, stamp, token;

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

symbol

verb

Definition of symbol

symboled or symbolled; symboling or symbolling

: symbolize

Recent Examples of symbol from the Web

To me that demonstrated the central role that symbols play in the culture.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Why Americans Flocked to Catch a Glimpse of Hitler’s Car," 16 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of symbol

1832

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SYMBOL Defined for English Language Learners

symbol

noun

Definition of symbol for English Language Learners

: an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality
: a letter, group of letters, character, or picture that is used instead of a word or group of words

SYMBOL Defined for Kids

symbol

noun sym·bol \ ˈsim-bəl \

Definition of symbol for Students

1 : something that stands for something else : emblem

The eagle is a symbol of the United States.

2 : a letter, character, or sign used instead of a word to represent a quantity, position, relationship, direction, or something to be done

The sign + is the symbol for addition.

Medical Dictionary

symbol

noun sym·bol \ ˈsim-bəl \

medical Definition of symbol

: something that stands for or suggests something else: as

a : an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities

b : an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed