persona

noun

per·​so·​na pər-ˈsō-nə 

-ˌnä

plural personae pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē 

-ˌnī

or personas

1

: a character assumed by an author in a written work

2

a

plural personas [New Latin, from Latin] : an individual's social facade or front that especially in the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung reflects the role in life the individual is playing compare anima

b

: the personality that a person (such as an actor or politician) projects in public : image

3

plural personae : a character in a fictional presentation (such as a novel or play)

—usually used in plural

comic personae

Examples of persona in a Sentence

His public persona is that of a strong, determined leader, but in private life he's very insecure.

The band takes on a whole new persona when they perform live.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maintaining that persona, however, took effort, as Simpson acknowledged. —Susan Schindehette, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Jackson Hinkle has cultivated an online persona so incendiary that he has been kicked off YouTube, Twitch and Instagram. —Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Berube, who plays Anne Boleyn, channels the pop persona of Avril Lavigne perfectly, right down to the punk rock buns and exaggerated eyeshadow. —Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024

His exasperation with stereotypes fuels this flashpoint novel about a Black academic named Monk who invents an ex-felon persona to sell books. —Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Chappell Roan has built her rising music career in the persona of a drag queen. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Exhibitors in Germany were blunt, Gelfond says, assuming the personas of his critics. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

Wong took on the persona of a cruel overlord to entertain the many volunteers. —Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

With the advent of generative AI, possibilities will now rapidly expand into assistive or augmentative use cases for multiple personas. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing persona

• in propria persona
• persona non grata
• persona grata

Medical Definition

persona

noun

per·​so·​na pər-ˈsō-nə, -ˌnä 

plural personas

: an individual's social facade or front that especially in the analytical psychology of C. G. Jung reflects the role in life the individual is playing compare anima sense 1