parable

UK: /ˈpærəb^əl/ US: /ˈpærəbəl/ ,(par′ə bəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

par•a•ble /ˈpærəbəl/   n. [countable]

1. a short story that illustrates some truth or lesson.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

par•a•ble  (par′ə bəl), n. 

1. a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
2. a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.

• Greek parabolé̄ comparison, equivalent. to para- para-¹ + bolé̄ a throwing
• Late Latin parabola comparison, parable, word
• 1275–1325; Middle English parabil

pa•rab•o•list  (pə rab′ə list), n.  Synonyms

• 1. allegory, homily, apologue.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parable / ˈpærəb^əl/ noun

1. a short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point
2. any of the stories of this kind told by Jesus Christ

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French parabole, from Latin parabola comparison, from Greek parabolē analogy, from paraballein to throw alongside, from para-¹ + ballein to throw