likeness

American  

[lahyk-nis] / ˈlaɪk nɪs /

noun

1. a representation, picture, or image, especially a portrait.

   to draw a good likeness of Churchill.

2. the state or fact of being like.

   I can't get over your likeness to my friend.

   Synonyms:

   similitude, resemblance

3. the semblance or appearance of something; guise.

   to assume the likeness of a swan.

   Synonyms:

   form, shape

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likeness British  

/ ˈlaɪknɪs /

noun

1. the condition of being alike; similarity

2. a painted, carved, moulded, or graphic image of a person or thing

3. an imitative appearance; semblance

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Etymology

Origin of likeness

before 950; Middle English liknesse, Old English līcnes, variant of gelīcnes. See alike, -ness

Example Sentences

Swift received permission from the estate of Taylor, who died in 2011 at the age of 73, to release the song and to use her likeness in the music video.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Close, who has spent 33 years in coaching, including 15 at UCLA, has navigated an evolving landscape shaped by name, image and likeness compensation policies and the transfer portal, just like everyone else.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

“Creators’ intellectual property rights do not fully protect against AI-generated likeness and digital replicas, at least not through copyright alone,” said Lauren Diaz, a professor and technology law expert at Nova Southeastern University.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

On it was a cartoon likeness of a smiling, winking chef with a face shaped like a hamburger bun and, in big red letters, the word “McDonald’s.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The only consolation was that she was no longer wearing Leanna North’s likeness.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• depiction
• effigy
• facsimile
• image
• photograph
• portrait
• replica
• reproduction