Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
figurative. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
figurative, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
figurative in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
figurative you have here. The definition of the word
figurative will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
figurative, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle French figuratif.
Pronunciation
Adjective
figurative (comparative more figurative, superlative most figurative)
- Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures; as when saying that someone who eats more than they should is a pig or like a pig.
2005 May 1, “The Sea of Love”, in New York Times:The lovers she seems to pursue with her figurative language in fact retreat under the barrage of similes, metaphors and fables.
- Metaphorically so called.
- With many figures of speech.
- Emblematic, symbolic; representative, exemplative
1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, , London: Will Stansby , published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity.
- (art) Representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
- 1875-1886, John Addington Symonds, Renaissance in Italy
- They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
See also
Further reading
- “figurative”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “figurative”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “figurative”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “figurative”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- “figurative”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- figurative in Britannica Dictionary
- What is figurative language?, merriam-webster.com
- figurative in WordReference English Collocations
- Figurative art on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Literal and figurative language on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
French
Pronunciation
Adjective
figurative
- feminine singular of figuratif
German
Pronunciation
Adjective
figurative
- inflection of figurativ:
- strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
- strong nominative/accusative plural
- weak nominative all-gender singular
- weak accusative feminine/neuter singular
Italian
Adjective
figurative
- feminine plural of figurativo
Anagrams
Norwegian Bokmål
Adjective
figurative
- definite singular/plural of figurativ
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
figurative
- definite singular/plural of figurativ