Metaphor
noun /ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/ — A direct comparison that describes one thing as another
Definition
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable — saying one thing is another to reveal a truth about both.
Beyond the definition
The most fundamental tool of understanding. Metaphors don't just describe — they create meaning that only exists in the comparison.
Origin & history
From Greek 'metaphora' — 'meta' (over, across) + 'pherein' (to carry). A metaphor carries meaning across from one domain to another.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her grief was a fog that settled over everything — a metaphor that the novel sustained for 300 pages.
The metaphor of light for understanding runs through every tradition of philosophy.
Time is money — perhaps the most consequential metaphor in the English language.
Synonyms
figure of speech, analogy, comparison, trope
Antonyms
literal statement
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Griffin sculpture guarding a bridge
A weathered stone griffin with eagle wings and lion anatomy guards a small garden bridge, covered in moss and ivy.
The griffin is a literal metaphor, combining disparate animal parts to symbolize a unified, protective force. It says this sculpture is a guardian to reveal the truth about the boundary it protects, using its mythic form to represent strength and vigilance.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration