depiction

[dih-pik-shuh n]

See more synonyms for depiction on Thesaurus.com

noun

representation in image form, as in a painting or illustration: Picasso's painting Guernica is an accurate depiction of the horrors of war.
representation or characterization in words: Mark Twain's letters are a clear depiction of his life and times.
an act or instance of depicting.

depict

[dih-pikt]

verb (used with object)

to represent by or as if by painting; portray; delineate.
to represent or characterize in words; describe.

Origin of depict

1625–35; < Latin dēpictus (past participle of dēpingere), equivalent to dē- de- + pic- past participle stem of pingere to paint + -tus past participle suffix

Related formsde·pict·er, de·pic·tor, nounde·pic·tion, nounde·pic·tive, adjectiveun·de·pict·ed, adjectivewell-de·pict·ed, adjective

Synonyms for depict

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1. reproduce, draw, paint, limn.

Synonym study

1, 2. Depict, portray, sketch imply a representation of an object or scene by colors or lines, or by words. Depict emphasizes vividness of detail: to depict the confusion of departure. Portray emphasizes faithful representation: We could not portray the anguish of the exiles. Sketch suggests the drawing of the outlines of the most prominent features or details, often in a preparatory way: to sketch the plans for a community development.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for depictions

picture, sketch, likeness, image, illustration, representation, portrayal, drawing, delineation, outline, presentment, portraiture

Examples from the Web for depictions

Contemporary Examples of depictions

While many of these depictions play into bisexual erasure, others reinforce harmful bisexual stereotypes.
It Ain't Easy Being Bisexual on TV
Amy Zimmerman
August 14, 2014
These depictions tend to be rather, shall we say, pyrotechnic.
‘The Leftovers’ Review: A Fever Dream You Can’t Wake Up From
Andrew Romano
June 29, 2014
Depictions of fatherhood on the flatscreen have also made notable progress recently.
Is 2014 ‘Year of the Dad’?
Andy Hinds
June 9, 2014
So I was trying to reflect that and not avoid the uneasiness inherent in the depictions of different existences.
Susan Minot on Africa, Joseph Kony, and the Limits of Writing About Love
Lea Carpenter
February 10, 2014
LGBT depictions on television have dropped from 4.4 percent to 3.3 percent.
‘Glee’ Ratings Surge With Cory Monteith Tribute; Taylor Swift Still Searching For ‘Great Love’
Culture Team
October 11, 2013

Historical Examples of depictions

Was there pose in these depictions of Mr. Hugo Canning as a morose recluse?
V. V.'s Eyes
Henry Sydnor Harrison
He finally thought he saw a halo around the orator's head, like the one seen in the old masters' depictions of saints.
The Battle of Principles
Newell Dwight Hillis

British Dictionary definitions for depictions

depict

verb (tr)

to represent by or as by drawing, sculpture, painting, etc; delineate; portray
to represent in words; describe

Derived Formsdepicter or depictor, noundepiction, noundepictive, adjective

Word Origin for depict

C17: from Latin dēpingere, from pingere to paint

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for depictions

depiction

1680s, from French depiction, from Late Latin depictionem (nominative depictio) "painting, description," noun of action from Latin depictus (see depict).

depict

early 15c., from Latin depictus, past participle of depingere "to portray, paint, sketch; describe, imagine," from de- "down" (see de-) + pingere "to paint" (see paint (v.)). Related: Depicted; depicting.