persona

[per-soh-nuh]

noun

plural

personae, personas 

1. a person.

2. personae, the characters in a play, novel, etc.

3. the narrator of or a character in a literary work, sometimes identified with the author.

4. (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 ).

5. a person's perceived or evident personality, as that of a well-known official, actor, or celebrity; personal image; public role.

persona

/ pɜːˈsəʊnə /

noun

1. (often plural) a character in a play, novel, etc

2. an assumed identity or character

3. (in Jungian psychology) the mechanism that conceals a person's true thoughts and feelings, esp in his adaptation to the outside world

Word History and Origins

Origin of persona¹

First recorded in 1905–10, persona is from the Latin word persōna mask, character. See person

Word History and Origins

Origin of persona¹

Latin: mask

Example Sentences

Plus, included eyes and mouth stickers give your extravagant purchase a down-to-earth persona.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since politicians are very rarely regular guys, they often go to great lengths to create a persona designed to at least give that impression.

Read more on Salon

Great actors change every time we see them, but the great movie stars succeed on the strength of the personas they carry from film to film.

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Yet in a manner almost impossible to describe, he stood above or outside his banal and dull-witted persona.

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Earlier this month, Peru's Congress voted to declare Sheinbaum a persona non grata - or unwelcome in the country.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• character 
• identity 
• personality 

When To Use

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.