Definition: Figurative language is a word or phrase that departs from everyday literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness. Metaphor and simile are the two most common examples of figurative language, but figurative language also includes hyperbole, synecdoche, puns, and personification, among others. Used well, figurative language enhances your fiction and can be an economical way of getting an image or a point across. However, used incorrectly, figurative language can be confusing or downright silly.
Also Known As: figure of speech, rhetorical figure, metaphorical language
Examples: "Its fleece was white as snow" is an example of a figurative language. In this case, comparing the lamb's fleece to snow helps create a picture of how white Mary's lamb really was.
To discover more examples of figurative language and to test your knowledge, take the quiz on figurative language.
