adjective

figurative

/ˈfɪɡərətɪv/ · say it: FIG·ur·uh·tiv

representing recognizable subjects, not abstract

In more detail

1. (adjective) using words in a way that is creative or imaginative rather than literal; expressing something by comparison or metaphor

2. (adjective) (of art) representing things as they appear in reality, not abstract

Examples

1. When she said she had 'a million things to do,' that was figurative language, not literally a million.
2. The museum displayed both figurative paintings of people and abstract art.

How to use figurative

Figurative describes language or representation that uses comparison, metaphor, or creative interpretation rather than stating things literally. When referring to art, it means representational or realistic rather than abstract. The term is most commonly applied to language and rhetoric, where it suggests a sophisticated or imaginative use of words rather than straightforward description.

Common phrases

figurative language
figurative sense
figurative meaning
in a figurative way
figurative art
figurative expression

Synonyms

metaphorical · symbolic · non-literal · imaginative · poetic

Opposites

literal · abstract

Word family

figure (noun) · figuratively (adverb) · figurativeness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse figurative with abstract in art contexts; figurative art actually depicts recognizable objects and scenes, whereas abstract art does not.

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