persona
Americannoun
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personae,
plural
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personas
plural
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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 (contrasted with 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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of persona
First recorded in 1905–10, persona is from the Latin word persōna mask, character. See person
Explanation
Your persona is the public image you present to the world. When T.S. Eliot wrote in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" about preparing "a face to meet the faces that you meet," he had the persona in mind. In ancient Latin the word persona meant "mask." The word also can refer to a character played by an actor. While a persona is not considered a lie or a falsehood, its meaning implies that it is only part of the truth. Like all masks, there is "real" person beneath. Often a performer will take on a persona to express certain parts of himself: the rapper Eminem also goes by the name Slim Shady to express his darker self.
Vocabulary lists containing persona
Poetry: Literary Devices
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The Hate U Give
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Vocabulary from Beyoncé's "Lemonade"
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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.
See Examples For:
He brings to vivid life a composer whose persona has been debated for centuries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
His pace, energy and on-pitch persona propelled him into the public consciousness and into contention for international honours.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
He now flaunts that wealth through his boisterous public persona.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Despite her humble, “who, me?” persona on the campaign trail, Shaw argues that her message resonates with parents in both parties.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
A pastel persona is quick to restrain the perpetual puzzler before she can claw your eyes out, and another one escorts you away.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
With a few minor and necessary exceptions dictated by the dramatis personae in certain scenes, Mr. Tucker primarily confines himself to the role of Iago while Mr. Quinn plays Othello.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
The WFP said directors of its Sudan operation were declared "personae non grata" and told to go within 72 hours, without explanation.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025
In this unfiltered, unvarnished portrait of the artist, Sheff succeeds magnificently in bringing one of popular music’s most divisive and misunderstood personae to life.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2025
The fantasy that every bad man would get his due, with the violent ones in jail and the manipulative ones made personae non grata, has not played out.
From Slate ● May 29, 2024
In the case of marrying, the dramatis personae include the person being married and the person doing the marrying.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Initially the two personas were separate; Alexander’s shocking success blurred their distinctions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
We all know that social-media personas can be misleading.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
In “Everything’s Falling,” the Warning contends with self-imposed songwriting limits that boxed them in as children — and tear down old personas to reveal their continuous, however imperfect, process of growth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
A statement from Curry's representatives following his death said: "Across five decades, he moved fluidly between comedy, horror, drama, and music, delighting himself and his legion of fans with his countless dynamic personas."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Harder even than Miig or Minerva; their personas were clear.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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.
