ALLEGORY Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

allegory

[ al-uh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural allegories.

a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.
a symbolical narrative:
the allegory of Piers Plowman.
Synonyms: ,
emblem ( def 3 ).

allegory

/ ˈæ��ɪɡə��ɪ /

noun

a poem, play, picture, etc, in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning
the technique or genre that this represents
use of such symbolism to illustrate truth or a moral
anything used as a symbol or emblem

allegory

A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols (see also symbol ) or metaphors . For example, in The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, the character named Christian struggles to escape from a bog or swamp. The story of his difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the “bog” of this world. The “bog” is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying.

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˈ��𲵴ǰ��, noun

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of allegory¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English allegorie, from Latin ��ŧ��ǰ��, from Greek ��ŧ��ǰ�í��, derivative of ��ŧ��ǰ��î�� “to speak so as to imply something else; speak allegorically,” equivalent to á��ǲ� “other, another” + ��ǰ��ú�𾱲� “to speak (in an assembly), address, harangue,” a derivative of ��ǰ�á; allo-, agora ¹

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of allegory¹

C14: from Old French allegorie, from Latin ��ŧ��ǰ��, from Greek, from ��ŧ��ǰ��𾱲� to speak figuratively, from allos other + agoreuein to make a speech in public, from agora a public gathering

Discover More

Compare Meanings

How does allegory compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The song also reads like an allegory for a young Mexican American woman who is caught between two cultures, struggling with the confining nature of being enough for both sides of her identity.

From

Lachman: There’s so much about the show that is an allegory for the human condition to want to avoid things that are unpleasant or difficult or part of that subconscious pain.

From

Can you talk a little bit about how to you the movie is in some way an allegory of filmmaking?

From

There’s a largess and there’s a directness in the films, allegory and visual allegory.

From

The monsters are all gruesome and gory, and everything, everything is an allegory for grief.

From

Browse