depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən 

dē-

plural depictions

: 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

Synonyms of depiction

• description
• portrait
• portrayal
• picture

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

After the film nabbed five awards at Israel’s annual Ophirs, the Minister of Culture, outraged at the depiction of Israeli soldiers, threatened to defund the ceremony. —Alissa Simon, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025

Bentley shies away from this, instead favoring depictions of Grainier’s picturesque solitude and brief, platonic connection with Claire after the loss of his faithful, loving family. —Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

In October, officials from the Karaman Governorship announced the discovery of a remarkable 1,200-year-old carbonized loaf of bread bearing a depiction of Jesus Christ. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025

It’s completed with a depiction of his four-octave range. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for depiction

• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• conviction
• eviction
• infliction
• nonfiction
• prediction
• restriction
• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction