persona
Americannoun
plural
personae, personas-
a person.
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personae, the characters in a play, novel, etc.
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the narrator of or a character in a literary work, sometimes identified with the author.
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(in the psychology of C. G. Jung) the mask or façade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment and not representing the inner personality of the individual; the public personality (anima ).
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a person's perceived or evident personality, as that of a well-known official, actor, or celebrity; personal image; public role.
noun
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(often plural) a character in a play, novel, etc
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an assumed identity or character
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(in Jungian psychology) the mechanism that conceals a person's true thoughts and feelings, esp in his adaptation to the outside world
Usage
What does persona mean? A persona is the image or personality that a person presents in public or in a specific setting—as opposed to their true self.The word is especially used in the phrase public persona, referring to the personality that a person presents in public and that they are known for by most people. The term is usually used in reference to public figures, such as politicians and celebrities, to contrast with “what they’re really like.”For example, someone’s public persona might be outgoing and social, while their true personality is shy and reserved. Of course, it’s also possible that someone’s public persona matches their true personality.In psychology, the word persona refers to the identity that a person takes on to adapt to the outside world or to a certain situation—their “mask” or facade.In literature, persona refers to a character in a story, especially the narrator.Much less commonly, persona can simply refer to a person. The Latin term persona appears in the phrase persona non grata, referring to a person who is not welcome.The correct plural of persona can be personas or personae. (The plural ending -ae is used in other formal plurals of Latin-derived words, such as antennae—the plural of antenna.)Example: In public, Ahmad’s persona is that of a confident leader, but in private he’s timid and kind of insecure.
Etymology
Origin of persona
First recorded in 1905–10, persona is from the Latin word persōna mask, character. See person
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2026, fictional personas may feel more relatable than real influencers ever did.
In an interview with the Journal in 2024, he insisted that the secret to success was his humble, consistent work ethic, not his larger-than-life public persona.
The practice has been around since the days of Old Hollywood, when actors like Audrey Hepburn, in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Sabrina,” melded their star personas with their characters.
From Los Angeles Times
The former Philadelphia Eagles stalwart, 38, played 13 seasons at center, winning a Super Bowl and endearing himself to the fan base with a charmingly authentic persona.
“I’ve integrated it into my stage persona as well, which is really nice, because now I’m more comfortable on the microphone.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
