figurative

Figurative is an adjective used to describe language or representations that convey meaning beyond the literal sense. In linguistics and rhetoric, figurative expressions are used to express ideas, emotions, or features indirectly, often by invoking images or associations.

Common forms include metaphor, simile, personification, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, and pun. These devices rely on shared cultural or contextual knowledge to be understood and often aim to create vivid imagery, emphasize a point, or convey nuanced attitudes.

Figurative language appears in poetry, prose, and everyday speech. It can enrich style, tone, or argument, but may also complicate literal interpretation or cross-cultural understanding if the audience is not familiar with the underlying references.

Figurative art refers to visual representations that depict recognizable figures or objects rather than abstract forms. In painting, sculpture, and drawing, figurative art ranges from realism and naturalism to more stylized or expressive forms, all centered on recognizable subjects rather than pure abstraction.

In summary, figurative denotes non-literal representation, whether in language or visual art, that relies on interpretation beyond the surface meaning to convey additional significance.