What is the name for language that conveys non-literal or imaginative meanings?

The term "figurative language" is used to describe language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to express complex ideas, emotions, and concepts in imaginative ways. This type of language includes devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole, which create vivid imagery and enhance the emotional impact of writing.

Figurative language allows writers to convey meanings that are more nuanced or abstract, enabling readers to engage with the text on a deeper level. For example, saying someone has "a heart of stone" does not mean their heart is literally made of stone; instead, it conveys that the person may be unfeeling or emotionally cold.

The other options, while related to language and its use, do not accurately encompass the broad aspect of non-literal or imaginative meanings that figurative language covers.