personification

American  

[per-son-uh-fi-kay-shuhn] / pərˌsɒn ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

• personifications
  plural

1. the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure.

2. the representation of a thing or abstraction in the form of a person, as in art.

3. the person or thing embodying a quality or the like; an embodiment or incarnation.

   He is the personification of tact.

4. an imaginary person or creature conceived or figured to represent a thing or abstraction.

5. the act of personifying; the attributing of human qualities to an animal, object, or abstraction.

   The author's personification of the farm animals made for an enchanting children's book.

6. a character portrayal or representation in a dramatic or literary work.

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personification British  

/ pɜːˌsɒnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the attribution of human characteristics to things, abstract ideas, etc, as for literary or artistic effect

2. the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc, as in art and literature

3. a person or thing that personifies

4. a person or thing regarded as an embodiment of a quality

   he is the personification of optimism

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpersonification
  noun
• personificator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• personifications
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of personification

First recorded in 1745–55; personi(fy) + -fication

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Explanation

Personification means "giving human qualities to an abstract idea," as in a movie villain who is the personification of evil. You can use the noun personification in two ways. In the first, a person who is known for a certain quality, like wisdom, is said to represent that quality in a way any can understand, like a patient, generous person who is the personification of kindness. On the other hand, personification can give human qualities to something that isn’t human. For example, you might say, “The sea is angry,” assigning it a human emotion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

personification personifications

Often described as monstrous, irredeemable from the crib and the personification of malice, Cathy is both Eve and serpent in Steinbeck’s heavy-handed biblical allegory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"The personification of the club with two of the most senior figures in Abu Dhabi make it likely that the leadership in the UAE will take the ruling very personally," said Ulrichsen.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Kelly is well-known among team-mates for being the personification of the modern Lionesses.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2025

The best personification of this reality is Sen. Padilla.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2025

With his gentle demeanor, Gandhi seemed the very personification of nonviolence, and he insisted that the campaign be run along identical lines to that of his father’s in India.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

If the "Sex and the City" universe is a fantasia of materialist gloss tethered to reality by genuine truths, then the personifications of this idea should maintain a crumb of constancy.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2023

I think of these objects as personifications, as having the capacity to be storytellers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2022

Neither of the Haywoods feel quite like “real” people but rather like heightened personifications of artists hungry to become part of the movie-making business — no matter the cost.

From The Verge ● Jul. 21, 2022

Some people who would like to mitigate the harm of these behaviors have clearly recognized the value of turning to those personifications of celluloid masculinity.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 29, 2020

Were these angels real angels, or were they personifications of good, of comfort?

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 4 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Lectures by Robert Green Ingersoll

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