figurative

[ fig-yer-uh-tiv ]
/ ˈfɪg yər ə tɪv /

adjective

of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a metaphor; metaphorical and not literal: The word “head” has several figurative senses, as in “She's the head of the company.”
metaphorically so called: His remark was a figurative boomerang.
abounding in or fond of figures of speech: Elizabethan poetry is highly figurative.
representing by means of a figure or likeness, as in drawing or sculpture.
representing by a figure or emblem; emblematic.

Origin of figurative

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin figūrātīvus (see figure) + -ive; replacing Middle English figuratif < Middle French

OTHER WORDS FROM figurative

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH figurative

figuratively literally virtually (see usage note at literally)

Words nearby figurative

figurant, figurante, figurate, figurate number, figuration, figurative, figurative language, figure, figure and ground, figure eight, figure eight suture

Content related to figuratively

“Figuratively” vs. “Literally” Literally can't tell the difference between literally and figuratively? We may have to call you out on that one, because they really are very different.
READ MORE

Example sentences from the Web for figuratively

British Dictionary definitions for figuratively

figurative
/ (ˈfɪɡərətɪv) /

adjective

of the nature of, resembling, or involving a figure of speech; not literal; metaphorical
using or filled with figures of speech
representing by means of an emblem, likeness, figure, etc
(in painting, sculpture, etc) of, relating to, or characterized by the naturalistic representation of the external world

Derived forms of figurative

figuratively, adverb figurativeness, noun