avatar

noun

av·​a·​tar ˈa-və-ˌtär 

plural avatars

1

: an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user

The average Fortnite player spends hundreds of hours in the game with a personal avatar, fighting with and interacting with the avatars of other players.

—Brian X. Chen

compare non-player character, npc

2

: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (such as Vishnu)

3

a

: an incarnation in human form

b

: an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person

… his series hero is about as pure an avatar of freedom as you will find in modern fiction …

—Sam Leith

4

: a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity

the latest avatar of the conservative movement

Did you know?

Avatar derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "descent," and when it first appeared in English in the late 18th century, it referred to the descent of a deity to the earth—typically, the incarnation in earthly form of Vishnu or another Hindu deity. It later came to refer to any incarnation in human form, and then to any embodiment (such as that of a concept or philosophy), whether or not in the form of a person. In the age of technology, avatar has developed another sense—it can now be used for the image that a person chooses as his or her "embodiment" in an electronic medium.

Synonyms

• abstract
• embodier
• embodiment
• epitome
• externalization
• genius
• icon
• ikon
• image
• incarnation
• incorporation
• instantiation
• manifestation
• objectification
• personification
• personifier

Examples of avatar in a Sentence

She has come to be regarded as an avatar of charity and concern for the poor.

She chose a penguin as her personal avatar in the chat room.

Recent Examples on the Web

In closed discussion groups on Discord, for example, players share tips on building mass casualty simulation games and how to make gaming avatars that look like the Columbine shooters, the researchers said. —USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

There are shops, where real people spend real money to buy virtual goods for their virtual avatars. —Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

This one doesn’t try to sell its meet-cute as realistic, but the story does feel fully invested in the relationship at its core, not just in serving up Millennial and Gen Z nostalgia bait by having the one-time Princess of Genovia fall for a Harry Styles avatar. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024

Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities, transforms into the female avatar Mohini and distributes the nectar to the gods. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Players create a look for their avatar, using a diverse array of options. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

From James’ vantage point, AI fashion and Web3 fashion ownership will continue to evolve to encompass not only physical garments but also digital assets such as virtual fashion and digital avatars. —Verostina Antwi, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024

For many Western viewers, their first exposure to the Ramayana’s influence was the Oscar-winning, crossover Tollywood hit RRR, whose climax transformed real-world freedom fighters Alluri Sitaram Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) into avatars for Ram and Hanuman respectively. —Siddhant Adlakha, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

One former employee told me Özer’s avatar on the in-house messaging system was an image of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character from The Wolf of Wall Street. —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent, from avatarati he descends, from ava- away + tarati he crosses over — more at ukase, through entry 1

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

avatar

noun

av·​a·​tar

ˈa-və-ˌtär

1

: someone who represents a type of person, an idea, or a quality

2

: an electronic image that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user (as in a game)