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 video echos the lyrics through its otherworldly theme, as the camera cuts between scenes of Finneas filming against a green screen, his fruitless attempt to catch the eye of his director (Hudson), and the musician caught in a life-sized diorama of the solar system. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025

This classic essay gives a history-qua-epic of Carl Akeley’s taxidermy work, as embodied in the mountain gorilla diorama of New York City’s American Museum of Natural History. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2025

The deadline to email photos of the diorama entries is noon on Friday, April 11. —Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2025

Filters have a more dramatic effect on images than Film Sims, with options that include a miniature effect that blurs part of the scene to simulate a photograph of a diorama, a low-fi toy camera filter, high and low-key exposure looks, and others. —PCMAG, 12 Mar. 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