portrait

American  

[pawr-trit, -treyt, pohr-] / ˈpɔr trɪt, -treɪt, ˈpoʊr- /

noun

• portraits
  plural

1. a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph.

   a gallery of family portraits.

2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person.

   a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

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adjective

1. Digital Technology. relating to or producing vertical, upright orientation of computer or other digital output, with lines of data parallel to the two shorter sides of a page or screen. Compare landscape.

portrait British  

/ -treɪt, ˈpɔːtrɪt /

noun

1. 1. a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or other likeness of an individual, esp of the face

   2. ( as modifier )

      a portrait gallery

2. a verbal description or picture, esp of a person's character

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adjective

1. printing (of a publication or an illustration in a publication) of greater height than width Compare landscape

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• portraitlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• portraits
  plural

Etymology

Origin of portrait

1560–70; < Middle French: a drawing, image, etc., noun use of past participle of portraire to portray

Explanation

A portrait is a portrayal of a person, usually showing the person's face (but not always). A portrait can be a painting, a photograph, an ink drawing, a sculpture — or even a description in words or in a film. Portrait is a term often used when talking about artwork. Go to an art museum, especially one that has a historic collection, and you'll likely see many portraits hanging on the walls. Formal portraits were commissioned by wealthy people throughout history. A portrait can also be a written description of someone's appearance or character. If you describe your Mom in such detail that everyone can imagine what she's like, you've created a portrait of her.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

portrait portraits

Nine-year-old Sebastian paints a portrait of his family home, unable to comprehend that it no longer exists after the powerful quake that shattered western Colombia this week.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

A sketchbook from Whistler’s teenage years in St. Petersburg, Russia—where his father worked as an engineer—is an unexpected treasure in the show, and includes sensitive portrait sketches that establish Whistler’s skills as a draftsman.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

I had just finished a portrait of Dorothy Dandridge, and he bought it right on the spot, making it my first commission.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Mr. Moral’s challenges regarding Spoto’s negative portrait cannot be ignored.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

“Since we’re on the subject of art appreciation,” Simon said, “what’s up with Edward Ashton’s portrait? The rest have gone positively cuddly, but his looks the same as ever.”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Under a blazing sun, clad in black and clutching portraits of their slain leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian pilgrims streamed across the border into Iraq to observe the Arbaeen, the most revered event in Shia Islam.

From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026

However, like many other female artists, she was largely forgotten, as fashions changed and some of her portraits were re-attributed to male artists.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Online users can log onto the webpage and browse through dozens of family portraits or a few oral interviews on the site, including that of the Gamboa family, which lived in the Bishop neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

However, there are still services today that offer “remembrance” or “bereavement” portraits for parents with children who have died.

From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026

“I don’t know. She never took portraits like the ones you have of yours.”

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

Related Words

• account
• characterization
• depiction
• figure
• image
• likeness
• model
• painting
• photograph
• picture
• portrayal
• profile
• silhouette
• sketch
• snapshot
• vignette