# metaphorical

/ˌmɛtəˈfɔɹɪkəɫ/ (US) · /mˌɛtəfˈɒɹɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/metaphorical
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

using words to describe something by comparing it to something else with similar qualities. You use this when you are not being literal, like saying someone has a 'heart of stone'.

For teachers: relating to or using a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Often used to describe language that conveys meaning through symbolic comparison.

## Examples

- The phrase 'time is money' is a metaphorical expression.
- The author uses a metaphorical journey through a dark forest to represent the character's internal struggle with grief.
- While the literal meaning of the text is straightforward, the metaphorical layers suggest a deeper critique of industrial society and its impact on the human spirit.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The story is metaphoric of life." but "The story is a metaphor for life." — Learners often use the adjective 'metaphorical' (or 'metaphoric') where the noun 'metaphor' is required to complete the 'is a [noun] for' pattern.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.