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depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən How to pronounce depiction (audio)
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

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.
These more varied depictions have moved the public’s perception of Mormonism into a more uninhibited territory. H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025 Written amid the Civil Rights Movement and the Black nationalism movement, Baraka's Dutchman made a splash among audiences at the time for its depiction of interracial relationship dynamics. Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025 The government said research showed the over-use of social media was harming young teenagers, including causing misinformation, enabling bullying and spreading harmful depictions of body image. Reuters, NBC news, 26 Nov. 2025 Battle Royale generated considerable controversy upon its initial release in Japan, where it was condemned by conservative politicians and received the rare R15+ rating due to its graphic depiction of violence between teens. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Nov. 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 29 Nov. 2025.

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