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

• 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

Those who photographed and painted the Canyon over the years have inspired generations of travelers with their depictions of its grandeur and vast scope, but nothing compares to seeing it for yourself. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025

The wildfire story is one facet of Maron’s depiction of living in the world right now. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025

The show then cut to a faux public service announcement showing a live-action depiction of Trump taking off his clothes and crawling through a desert. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 July 2025

The season 27 premiere episode featured several depictions of Trump. —Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 30 July 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