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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The church said the depiction is supposed to match the experience of migrants in detention facilities and of community members, including children, who were detained during raids. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025 Greenblatt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning depiction of Renaissance chaos (The Swerve, in 2011) lends intrigue and intellectual context to the Shakespeares’ emotional ordeal — becoming an extraordinary subtext to the Hamlet play. Peter Bart, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2025 Bassett was praised upon the movie's release for her depiction of a woman enduring abuse at the hands of her husband, whom the public thought was her most ardent supporter. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Dec. 2025 Queen Elizabeth was closely associated with the tiara, wearing it on numerous occasions throughout her 70 years on the throne, including in depictions of her on some British and Commonwealth banknotes and coins. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025 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 8 Dec. 2025.

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