representational

[rep-ri-zen-tey-shuh-nl, -zuhn-]

adjective

1. of or relating to representation.

2. representing or depicting an object in a recognizable manner.

   representational art.

representational

/ ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. fine arts depicting or attempting to depict objects, scenes, figures, etc, directly as seen; naturalistic

2. of or relating to representation

Other Word Forms

• unrepresentational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of representational¹

First recorded in 1850–55; representation + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“It was an absolute joy to discover that there was nothing that Chris and Paul had to change to make it representational,” Dumezweni says.

From Los Angeles Times

But those artists approached representational imagery in a wide variety of ways.

From Los Angeles Times

The real problem is the very structure of what we call democracy, which enables elites to interfere before elections, during elections and after elections, because we have a representational voting system.

From Salon

Certainly, this representational role is a dimension of the presidency with which he has seemed at ease.

From BBC

They tend to have a much harder time ascending the stratified ranks of culture and politics, becoming the published authors and elected officials who might provide representational equality.

From Salon

Related Words

• descriptive 
• illustrated 
• photographic 
• visual 
• vivid