symbolic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols

   symbolic logic

2. 2
   adj

   using symbolism

   symbolic art

3. 3
   adj

   Pertaining to a symbol.

   Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.

4. 4
   adj

   Implicitly representing or referring to another thing.

   a symbolic gesture

5. 5
   adj

   serving as a visible symbol for something abstract

Etymology

From French symbolique or directly from Latin symbolicus, from Ancient Greek συμβολικός (sumbolikós, “of or belonging to a symbol”), equivalent to symbol + -ic.