1.
If you describe an event, action, or procedure as symbolic, you mean that it represents an important change, although it has little practical effect.
A lot of Latin-American officials are stressing the symbolic importance of the trip...
The move today was largely symbolic.
ADJ
• symbolically
It was a simple enough gesture, but symbolically important.
ADV: ADV adj, ADV with cl
2.
Something that is symbolic of a person or thing is regarded or used as a symbol of them.
Yellow clothes are worn as symbolic of spring...
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ of n
• symbolically
Each circle symbolically represents the whole of humanity.
ADV: ADV with v
3.
Symbolic is used to describe things involving or relating to symbols.
...symbolic representations of landscape.
ADJ: ADJ n