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
For other comedians, the retrospective meditation is about grappling with existential dread rather than Nanjiani’s focus on the trap of his external public persona.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Jim Carrey, wearing layer upon layer of green makeup and prosthetics, lends his signature goofy star persona to the lead role, while character actors like Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon fulfill their Whoville roles with aplomb.
—Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
In the process, Robinson taps into a persona audiences can laugh at—and maybe even recognize—but find sympathetic anyway.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
From its wild adaptability to its chatty persona (constantly repeating its one name), this float has total Air sign behavior.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona
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Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Jim Carrey, wearing layer upon layer of green makeup and prosthetics, lends his signature goofy star persona to the lead role, while character actors like Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon fulfill their Whoville roles with aplomb.
—Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
In the process, Robinson taps into a persona audiences can laugh at—and maybe even recognize—but find sympathetic anyway.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
From its wild adaptability to its chatty persona (constantly repeating its one name), this float has total Air sign behavior.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona
Cite this Entry
“Persona.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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