Figurativamente

Figurativamente is an Italian adverb meaning “in a figurative sense” or “figuratively speaking.” It signals that what is being said should not be understood literally, but rather as a metaphor, symbol, or extended image.

Etymology and classification: figurativamente derives from the adjective figurativo plus the adverbial suffix -mente. The root figur- comes from figura, meaning figure or form, with related terms in many Romance languages used to denote non-literal or metaphorical usage.

Usage and context: the word is common in literary, journalistic, and academic contexts to clarify rhetorical intention or to frame descriptions as metaphorical. It can accompany phrases like figurativamente parlando (figuratively speaking) or be used on its own to mark a non-literal reading of a statement. For example, one might say, “Figurativamente parlando, la crisi è stata una tempesta,” to indicate the description is metaphorical rather than a literal weather event. It is often contrasted with letteralmente, which means “literally.”

Capitalization and form: the standard form is figurativamente in lowercase, used within a sentence. The capitalized form Figurativamente appears only at the beginning of a sentence or in titles and headings, where capitalization follows stylistic conventions rather than a distinct grammatical rule.

See also: letteralmente, metafora, linguistica, figura.