symbol

1 of 2

noun

sym·​bol ˈsim-bəl 

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

symbol

2 of 2

verb

symboled or symbolled; symboling or symbolling

: symbolize

Synonyms

Noun

• emblem
• ensign
• hallmark
• impresa
• logo
• totem
• trademark

Examples of symbol in a Sentence

Noun

the traditional physician's symbol of a staff entwined with a snake

the symbol ¶ indicates where a new paragraph should begin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Saguaro Cactus is the largest in the nation and can reach up to 40-60 feet high, live 150-200 years and is an iconic symbol of the Southwest. —CBS News, 15 May 2024

Months before tents became a symbol of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses nationwide, Kevin Engel and other students set up two outside the Dartmouth administration building to seek divestment from Israel. —Vimal Patel, New York Times, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing symbol

• peace symbol
• sex symbol
• status symbol
• yinyang symbol

Kids Definition

symbol

noun

sym·​bol

ˈsim-bəl

1

: something that stands for something else

especially : something real that stands for or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured or shown

the lion is a symbol of courage

2

: a letter, character, or sign used instead of a word or group of words

the sign + is the symbol for addition

Medical Definition

symbol

noun

sym·​bol ˈsim-bəl 

: 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

phallic symbols

symbolic

sim-ˈbäl-ik 

adjective

symbolically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb