These words refer to a tangible or visible indication of a detectable or agreed-upon meaning. Symbol is the most complex of these words in its references, emphasizing in all its uses something deliberately made to embody, or constructed to communicate, a certain meaning. A symbol may be arbitrarily arrived at: the symbols of the alphabet; white, the symbol of purity. Or it may be developed by charged circumstances: early Australian landholders who saw in Macarthur the symbol of their cause. In an aesthetic sense, the word may refer to an element carefully chosen and deployed to have a desired effect: a series of unrelated misfortunes in the novel that became symbols for the protagonist’s state of mind.

Sign is often used in place of symbol to refer to a simple, arbitrary representation of an agreed-upon meaning: the sign of the Cross, waving the white flag as a sign that they wished to surrender. Even on the simplest level, the two words are often used in tandem to indicate different things; for example, letters and the words they make are referred to as symbols , punctuation marks as signs. The former yield meanings, the latter phrasings or intonations. On other levels, as well, sign refers to an arbitrary indication from which simple, agreed-upon meanings or instructions can be deduced. Correspondingly, symbol refers to an indication that embodies a greater range of meanings. These must be induced from the exact deployment of the symbols and cannot always be paraphrased without loss. The higher animals as well as man use signs , but only man creates symbols : the typical shriek that monkeys make as a sign to warn others in the tribe of an unexpected danger.

• Documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights endure as symbols for human aspirations that are not necessarily enumerated in them.

More loosely, sign is widely used for any sort of tell-tale fact from which information can be deduced: looking for signs that the disease had run its course; a sign that more inflation was on the way.

Emblem suggests a visual symbol that stands as the distinctive device of a group or nation: the lion that is an emblem of Britain; the hammer-and-sickle emblem of the Soviet Union. Badge , most strictly, is an emblem that designates membership or rank in a military or paramilitary unit or an honour given by it: the badge of the Ninth Division; a Good Conduct badge ; a merit badge ; the fleur-de-lis badge of the Boy Scouts; turning back his lapel to show his blood-bank badge . Sometimes the word can be used as a more colourful substitute for emblem : wearing the scarlet letter as the badge of her disgrace. Hallmark was originally a distinguishing mark stamped on sterling silver; now the word may refer to an emblem chosen to represent a group or business: the drawing of a comet that appeared as a hallmark on the company’s stationery. Even more generally, it can refer to any unmistakable or outstanding feature by which something can be recognized: the wit and dignity that was the hallmark of his administration; integrity, the hallmark of a gentleman.

Device , in this sense, refers to a symbolic figure or design, usually with a motto or legend, in a coat of arms borne upon a shield. It may denote also any emblem that has been adopted by a person or a family. By extension, the old-fashioned publisher’s colophon or tail-piece, or an easily recognizable symbol used as a trade mark, are sometimes called devices .

Token most often refers to something offered as a symbol or reminder of an attitude or understanding: giving her a kiss as a token of his love: keeping the medals as a token by which to remember her dead son. More recently, the word may suggest a partial effort or a minimal company businesses that employ one ex-convict as a token of their liberality.