persona

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.

The first records of the word persona in English come from the 1700s. The first records of its use to refer to a person’s public image come from the early 1900s. It’s derived from the Latin persōna, meaning “mask.”

In psychology, the concept of the persona was developed by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung to refer to the “mask” that’s used to hide the true nature of a person (called the anima). This mask gets put on when different situations call for the personality that suits them.

Personas aren’t only associated with celebrities. Regular people use different personas all the time. For example, a person’s persona when they’re in a job interview will be different from the one when they’re in the workplace, which is different from the one they display when they’re out with their friends.

In literature, the word persona often refers to the narrator of the book, which is often associated with the author of the work. In this sense, it’s the voice that the author uses to tell the story.

What are some other forms related to persona?

• personas (plural)
• personae (plural)

What are some synonyms for persona?

• character
• identity
• mask

What are some words that share a root or word element with persona? 

• persona non grata
• person
• personality

What are some words that often get used in discussing persona?

• public
• private
• ego
• self
• true
• project
• show
• anima

The word persona is commonly used to discuss the way public figures portray themselves to the world.

#KaranJohar’s fierce exercise of the right to privacy is at such odds with his public persona of letting it all hang out that it enrages people, writes @kavereeb, https://t.co/TRZ6qzJoIh pic.twitter.com/BY9gdgq7uJ

— Open Magazine (@Openthemag) July 9, 2020

It's moreso a persona than an actual person. You know they got something to hide if they act like a perfect, wholesome figure in public. It comes off as robotic.

— 💫AstralWingz💫 (@Zhane_Star) July 11, 2020

Which of the following terms is an antonym (opposite) of persona?

A. true self
B. inner personality
C. anima
D. all of the above