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
That candor tracks with the self-aware persona that built her YouTube audience in the first place.
—
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
After changing head coaches — firing Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown — the Knicks have identical win-loss records, but have undergone a change in identity, a persona remaining under construction with just three regular-season games left before the playoffs roll around.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Mother Mary casts Hathaway as the title character, who was previously described as a Lady Gaga-meets-Swift hybrid who flees a tour and winds up seeking out an old friend and fashion designer (Michaela Coel) who helped shape her public persona.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Then the shitposting and internet personas crept off the web and into the center of our politics.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persona
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Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
After changing head coaches — firing Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown — the Knicks have identical win-loss records, but have undergone a change in identity, a persona remaining under construction with just three regular-season games left before the playoffs roll around.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Mother Mary casts Hathaway as the title character, who was previously described as a Lady Gaga-meets-Swift hybrid who flees a tour and winds up seeking out an old friend and fashion designer (Michaela Coel) who helped shape her public persona.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Then the shitposting and internet personas crept off the web and into the center of our politics.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persona
Cite this Entry
“Persona.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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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