personage

[pur-suh-nij]

noun

1. a person of distinction or importance.

2. any person.

3. a character in a play, story, etc.

personage

/ ˈpɜːsənɪdʒ /

noun

1. an important or distinguished person

2. another word for person

   a strange personage

3. rare,  a figure in literature, history, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonpersonage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of personage¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English: “body or image (statue, portrait) of a person” (from Old French ), from Medieval Latin persōnāgium. See person, -age

Synonym Study

See person.

Example Sentences

But it is Ms. Hawkins, fully committed to a character who should be committed, who shines, making Laura a singular personage—a monster, but not necessarily a villain.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Musk’s unrestrained, all-access scourge through the government has led pundits like Nate Silver to compare him to a ‘great man’ of history — that mythic personage whose unhindered agency pushes history forward.

Read more on Salon

We chronicle, explicate, elucidate and constantly “re-adjudicate” historical events and personages.

Read more on Salon

Mr. Allman introduces us to an eclectic gallery of Miami personages.”

Read more on New York Times

"These films seek to challenge what we think we know about historical personages or important historical incidents. They are out to create a new alt-history."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• celebrity 
• dignitary