avatar

noun

av·​a·​tar ˈa-və-ˌtär How to pronounce avatar (audio)
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.

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 The inner workings of municipal entities may not sound like riveting comedic fodder, but Abbott wrings constant humor from the true-to-life hurdles that educators face (without turning their students into avatars of dysfunction). Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 Louis’ next book, History of Violence, describes in heartbreaking detail a rape that its protagonist—another avatar for the writer—endured. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 The highlight reel would include Jazz Age avatar Clara Bow, who embodied the antecedent in It (1926); William Wellman’s aerial spectacle Wings (1927), the first best picture winner; and Rouben Mamoulian’s innovative early sound film Applause (1929). Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 Both Vice Media and BuzzFeed have been avatars for the entire industry, having served as the two highest-profile pioneers that paved the (short) road for other digital-first upstarts. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 This action-adventure series follows young avatar Aang’s (Gordon Cormier) quest to save the world from the evil Fire Nation, led by Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim). Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 For a time in the late 1960s, the cane chairs, now avatars of modern design, seemed ubiquitous in certain American households. Penelope Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 The internet is rife with people seeking connections with a digital avatar, even before the rise of generative AI. Emilia David, The Verge, 15 Feb. 2024 At a carnival-like campaign event in Tegal, also in Central Java, complete with live music, door prizes, and bouncy castles, hundreds of fans in baby-blue shirts featuring Mr. Prabowo’s AI avatar braved the piercing heat to attend. Kate Lamb, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of avatar was in 1784

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Cite this Entry

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

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)

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