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 history of snake oil as a symbol of fraud and deception dates to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. —Jordan Friedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

The trucks and neighborhood homes depicted in his works become symbols of community, resilience, and the emotional baggage that must be navigated to move forward. —Okla Jones, Essence, 19 Oct. 2024

Verb

The laser eyes symbol that Saylor incorporated into his profile picture started in online Bitcoin communities but has spread to the mainstream. —Fortune, 13 June 2022

Press and hold the app icon, tap App Info (the i symbol), and tap Permissions. —Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 8 Sep. 2020

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