depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən How to pronounce depiction (audio)
dē-
plural depictions
Synonyms of depictionnext
: 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

the set piece of the novel is a depiction of the battle that makes readers feel like they were there
Recent Examples on the Web
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Weil also defended his Amazon Prime series Hunters following criticism by the Auschwitz Memorial over its fictional depictions of the Holocaust. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026 According to prosecutors’ depiction of the honey trap, Lavie, also known as Mia Ventura, posed as a romantic partner or travel companion before stealing cash, gold, and high-end designer goods. Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 14 Apr. 2026 Many works appear to be collages, but on close inspection turn out to be flat oil on canvas depictions of pop and cultural artifacts. Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026 However we are deeply offended by this and have no other choice but to condemn it wholeheartedly and ask for a public apology to the Christian brethren who have been deeply upset by this depiction. Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depiction

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of depiction was in 1688

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Cite this Entry

“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depiction. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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