portrait

1 of 2

noun

por·​trait ˈpȯr-trət 

-ˌtrāt

1

: picture

especially : a pictorial representation of a person usually showing the face

2

: a sculptured figure : bust

3

: a graphic portrayal in words

portrait

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being a rectangular document having the vertical dimension longer than the horizontal dimension

switching from landscape to portrait mode

compare landscape sense 3

Synonyms of portrait

Noun

• description
• depiction
• portrayal
• picture
• sketch

Examples of portrait in a Sentence

Noun

The queen posed for her portrait.

The book presents a portrait of life in a small town.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many museums around the world, including the Met, the Getty, and the Musée d’Orsay, own examples of his genre scenes, landscapes, and portraits. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026

Vexed by the story, Gonzalez created acontemporary portrait of Katteuha. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Adjective

In portrait orientation, the left side of the bottom bar only has space for about three to four app icons. — Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, 23 June 2018

Arneson sets the tone through a ceramic self-portrait head from 1973, wall-mounted near the entry. — Leah Ollman, latimes.com, 3 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French pourtraict, portraict "image, representation," going back to Old French portret, noun derivative from past participle of pourtraire "to represent, depict" — more at portray

Adjective

from attributive use of portrait entry 1; so called because such a format is customarily used for portraits

First Known Use

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1975, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing portrait

• self-portrait

Kids Definition

portrait

1 of 2 noun

por·​trait ˈpōr-trət 

ˈpȯr-, 

-ˌtrāt

1

: a picture of a person usually showing the face

2

: a portrayal in words

portrait

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a rectangular document having the vertical dimension longer than the horizontal dimension

printed in portrait mode

compare landscape