portrayal
AmericanOther Word Forms
- misportrayal noun
- nonportrayal noun
- preportrayal noun
Etymology
Origin of portrayal
Explanation
If you like the way an actor played the role of Abraham Lincoln, you might praise his portrayal of the sixteenth president. Use the noun portrayal to describe the representation of someone, either in the form of a dramatic character, a spoken description, or even a photograph or painting of the person. You can also talk about the portrayal of an object or idea: "Dorothea Lange's photographs are an accurate portrayal of the Great Depression." The Old French word portraire, "to draw or trace," is the root of portrayal.
Vocabulary lists containing portrayal
Academy Awards, List 6
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Between Shades of Gray
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The Unmapped Sea
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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.
Her take-no-prisoners portrayal of Lois quickly became a defining career highlight.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
"The Cardinal emphatically denied the media's portrayal of his meeting with Colby," Burch said.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
"Michael Patrick's portrayal of Richard III in a now legendary production was one of the greatest performances ever on the Lyric stage," Fay said.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
The actor expressed her satisfaction that the story of Sarah and Hagar is given a positive portrayal since that’s not always been the case.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
Perhaps best remembered was his surprise portrayal of Betsy Ross.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
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.
