symbol

symbol — noun

1. A written mark, printed character, or small picture that stands for a particular

1.nounA2
Definition

A written mark, printed character, or small picture that stands for a particular thing, idea, or operation.

Example

The @ symbol appears in every email address that you write.

preposition 'in' with symbol

In mathematics, the + symbol stands for addition between numbers.

Common collocations
  • symbol for numbers
  • symbol stands for
  • symbol means
  • written symbol
  • printed symbol
Synonyms
  • sign

    more general — 'sign' can also mean an indicator or notice board; 'symbol' is more specific to conventional representation

  • mark

    simpler and broader — a mark can be a scratch or stain without conventional meaning

  • character

    refers specifically to written or printed letters and signs, often in a writing system

Grammar Patterns

symbol for [something]

Usage Note

Often followed by 'for' to name what the mark represents. Subject is usually the symbol name itself.

Common Mistakes

The # symbol means the word hashtag.
The # symbol is called the hashtag symbol.
Use 'called' or 'known as' for the name of a symbol, not 'means'.

2. A thing — such as an object, picture, or animal — that people understand to stan

2.nounB1
Definition

A thing — such as an object, picture, or animal — that people understand to stand for a general quality, feeling, or concept.

Example

A dove is often used as a symbol of peace around the world.

as a symbol of [quality]

In many cultures, the colour white is a symbol of purity at weddings.

Common collocations
  • symbol of peace
  • symbol of hope
  • symbol of unity
  • powerful symbol
  • become a symbol of
Synonyms
  • emblem

    more formal and often tied to a specific organization, nation, or family

  • icon

    suggests something widely admired or representative of a whole culture or movement

  • token

    a smaller, more personal or concrete item that represents a feeling or fact

Grammar Patterns

symbol of [quality/idea]

as a symbol of [something]

Usage Note

The preposition is almost always 'of' — 'a symbol of peace', 'a symbol of hope'. Distinguish from sense 1 (WRITTEN SIGN), where the symbol is a conventional mark; here it is an object or image that carries abstract meaning.

Common Mistakes

The rose is the symbol of love between the couple.
A rose is often used as a symbol of love.
For general statements, use 'a symbol' (indefinite article), not 'the symbol'.

3. A mark or character whose interpretation is precisely defined within a specialis

3.nounB1
Definition

A mark or character whose interpretation is precisely defined within a specialised field — for instance, in chemistry, musical notation, or mathematics.

Example

On sheet music, the symbol called a treble clef tells you which notes to play.

In chemistry, H₂O is the written symbol for the molecule called water.

symbol for [element/molecule]

Common collocations
  • chemical symbol
  • musical symbol
  • mathematical symbol
  • symbol represents
  • symbol for water
Synonyms
  • notation

    a system of symbols rather than one single character

  • abbreviation

    a shortened form of a word, not always a visual character

  • sign

    broader; a sign does not have to be standardised across a field

Grammar Patterns

chemical symbol for [element]

musical symbol

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1 (WRITTEN SIGN), these symbols belong to a specific technical field and carry a precise, unambiguous meaning within that field. The field is usually named nearby in the sentence.

Common Mistakes

Fe is a symbol for iron.
Fe is the chemical symbol for iron.
In scientific writing, include the field name ('chemical', 'musical', 'mathematical') before 'symbol' to be precise.

4. A physical thing that people think of as representing something larger or deeper

4.nounB1
Definition

A physical thing that people think of as representing something larger or deeper, usually because of shared cultural or historical associations.

Example

The Statue of Liberty became a powerful symbol of hope for new immigrants.

became a symbol of [concept]

For many Japanese people, Mount Fuji is a sacred symbol of their country.

Common collocations
  • became a symbol of
  • serve as a symbol
  • sacred symbol
  • cultural symbol
  • symbol of freedom
Synonyms
  • emblem

    more formal, often officially adopted by a country or group

  • representation

    broader and more abstract; can refer to art or language as well

  • reminder

    personal and emotional; a reminder prompts memory, while a symbol carries wider meaning

Grammar Patterns

symbol of [abstract concept]

become a symbol of [something]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2 (REPRESENTATIVE): sense 2 uses conventional symbols (dove for peace) that are widely agreed upon; sense 4 describes a real object that takes on symbolic weight through shared cultural or personal history.

Common Mistakes

A dove is a symbol of peace between the two countries.
A dove represents peace between the two countries.
For conventional symbols, use sense 2's patterns with 'a symbol of'; for objects with cultural/historical weight, save sense 4.

symbol — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Symbol, emblem, and icon all refer to something that represents an idea or quality. Symbol is the broadest term — it can be any object, image, or sign that stands for something else through convention or association. Emblem is a concrete design that officially represents a nation, institution, or family, often with formal or heraldic origins (a national emblem on a passport). Icon originally meant a religious image but today commonly refers to a person or thing widely admired as representative of a culture (a cultural icon). Token is a smaller, more personal object that stands for a feeling or fact, often given as a gesture (a token of gratitude). Sign is a direct indicator — it points to something through clear, cause-and-effect association (dark clouds as a sign of rain). Use symbol for general abstract representation, emblem for formal designs, icon for widely admired examples, token for personal gestures, and sign for direct evidence.

symbol ↗emblemicon ↗token ↗sign ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act as a symbol
  • serve as a symbol
  • become a symbol of
  • regard as a symbol
  • use as a symbol

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word symbol comes from the Latin 'symbolum', meaning a token or sign of identity. The Latin word can be traced back to the Greek 'symbolon' (σύμβολον), which was a piece of broken pottery that two people split as a promise — each kept one half, and bringing the halves together confirmed their agreement. The Greek word combines 'syn-' (together) and 'ballein' (to throw), giving the sense of 'thrown together'. The idea of two halves fitting together gradually shifted into the modern sense of a visible thing that fits together with an invisible meaning in people's minds.