Agency Dictionary

Symbol

nounPronunciation: /ˈsɪm.bəl/

In Portuguese: Símbolo

What does “Symbol” mean?

A mark, sign, character, or visual emblem used as a conventional representation of an object, function, concept, or abstract idea.

Etymology

From Latin symbolum, borrowed from Greek symbolon, "a sign by which one infers something, a token, a mark of recognition", from symballein, "to throw together, to compare", composed of syn, "together", and ballein, "to throw". In Greek a symbolon was each half of an object broken in two: when the halves were matched, they proved a bond between the holders. From that came the sense of any sign that stands for something else.

Synonyms

sign
emblem
token
icon

Word family

symbolic
symbolism
symbolize
symbology

Usage examples

That’s because symbols were the only language back then.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Buttonnoun: A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
Typographynoun: The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. It encompasses typeface selection, point size, line spacing, tracking, and spatial kerning.
Maximnoun: A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
Screennoun: A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
wireframenoun: A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.

Also from these editions: terms

Equationnoun: A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Mazenoun: A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
vocationnoun: A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
shogunatenoun: A feudal military dictatorship in Japan, headed by a shogun, in which loyalty and honour were central to its operation. The system was exclusive to Japan and did not exist in other Asian nations.
Synchronicitynoun: The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
recipientnoun: The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
Superfluousadjective: Exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, or useful.
Treatisenoun: A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.