Word: figurative (adjective)

Associations

The word "figurative" is used to describe language or expressions that are not meant to be taken literally. Instead, they use metaphors, similes, or other figures of speech to create a special meaning or effect.

• "She used figurative language to describe the sunset, saying it was a blanket of fire." Here, "blanket of fire" is not literal but a figurative way to describe the sky.
• "Poets often write in figurative language to make their poems more vivid and interesting."
• "When he said 'I'm drowning in work,' he used figurative speech to show he has a lot of tasks."

A well-known synonym is "metaphorical." The difference is that "figurative" covers all kinds of non-literal language (metaphors, similes, personification), while "metaphorical" refers specifically to metaphors.

Substitution

In many cases, you can use:

• "non-literal" (meaning not literal)
• "symbolic" (if something represents something else)
• "metaphorical" (if specifically talking about metaphors)

Using "literal" is the opposite, meaning the exact or real meaning.

Deconstruction

• Root: "figure" comes from Latin "figura," meaning shape or form.
• Suffix: "-ative" is an adjective ending meaning "related to" or "characterized by." "Figurative" literally means "related to a figure or shape," which connects to how it uses imaginative shapes or forms of speech.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone used figurative language to describe something simple?
• How does figurative language make stories or descriptions more interesting?
• Can you find a figurative phrase in your language that does not translate literally into English? How would you explain it?