depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən How to pronounce depiction (audio)
dē-
plural depictions
: a representation in words or images of someone or something
The book is fascinating in its depiction of the country's early history.
The first part of the book … is a depiction of the nearly lost world of a North American hunter-gatherer community.Timothy Egan
The late Vermont artist Stephen Huneck made works that are instantly recognizable—bright, accessible, folky depictions of dogs enjoying themselves.James Heflin
By comparison with the depiction of domesticity in such 1950s staples as The Donna Reed Show and Ozzie and Harriet, the portrait of family life on The Dick Van Dyke Show, the emblematic sitcom of the early 1960s, seemed staggering in its sheer smartness and casual elegance.Bruce Bawer

Examples of depiction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Kate Middleton's Uncle Slams The Crown's Portrayal of His Family: 'Ridiculous and Fantastical' The London businessman has previously been candid about depictions of the royal family in the media. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Through its depiction of determination, courage, and the power of words, the film powerfully captures the importance of education and the fight for social justice. Travis Bean, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Critics praised the immersive nature of Clavell’s world-building and his depiction of cross-cultural understanding. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 In fact, characters in his books rail against the cliched depictions of Native Americans in vintage settings. Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Not all nude depictions of children are legally considered pornographic, so without more information about what the photos depict, their legality is unclear. Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 As rumors fly about how and why Ganesh’s father died, the movie’s harsh depictions of this economic reality are interrupted nightly by ornate religious stage performances centering the Hindu ur-deity Vishnu, the god of preservation. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024 In Lin’s depiction, though, the workers do triumph, in a gruesome sort of way. Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The original game’s depiction of the small village of Gongaga consisted of three static images. Gene Park, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depiction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of depiction was in 1688

Dictionary Entries Near depiction

Cite this Entry

“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depiction. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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