portrayal

noun

por·​tray·​al pȯr-ˈtrā(-ə)l How to pronounce portrayal (audio)
pər-
Synonyms of portrayalnext
1
: the act or process or an instance of portraying : representation
2

Examples of portrayal in a Sentence

his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness
Recent Examples on the Web
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Her portrayal of social customs appears almost fantastical in light of the transformation undergone by her protagonist. Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 The play, starring John Lithgow, already recouped its capitalization in May, with Lithgow winning a Tony for his portrayal of Roald Dahl. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 That portrayal caused Amazon to want to distance itself from the film, given the company’s $50 billion investment in OpenAI, two of the sources said. Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 While critics are divided, Milly Alcock's portrayal of Supergirl's origins receives widespread praise. Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for portrayal

Word History

Etymology

portray + -al entry 2

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of portrayal was in 1843

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portrayal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

portrayal

noun
por·​tray·​al pōr-ˈtrā(-ə)l How to pronounce portrayal (audio)
pȯr-
1
: the act or process of portraying : representation
2

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