diorama

noun

di·​ora·​ma ˌdī-ə-ˈra-mə  -ˈrä- 

1

: a scenic representation in which a partly translucent painting is seen from a distance through an opening

2

a

: a scenic representation in which sculptured figures and lifelike details are displayed usually in miniature so as to blend indistinguishably with a realistic painted background

b

: a life-size exhibit (as of a wildlife specimen or scene) with realistic natural surroundings and a painted background

dioramic

ˌdī-ə-ˈra-mik 

-ˈrä-

adjective

Examples of diorama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The painting depicts a Santa figure on an exercise bike, in what looks like a black and white paper diorama of a living room with a Christmas tree. —Hazlitt, 23 Dec. 2025

Some of his boxes look like miniature cabinets of curiosities, others like Surrealist dioramas, windows into dreamlike worlds. —Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

The 32-year-old French singer-producer Marylou Vanina Mayniel deconstructs trance music as if with a jeweler’s chisel, making delicate dioramas that call to mind ruins covered in snow. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025

Kids who won a contest get to display their model train dioramas in the dining room. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from dia- + -orama (as in panorama, from English)

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for diorama

• panorama
• trichogramma
• gamma
• grama
• gramma

Kids Definition

diorama

noun

di·​o·​rama

ˌdī-ə-ˈram-ə, 

-ˈräm-

: a scenic representation in which lifelike sculptured figures and surrounding details are realistically set against a painted background