portrayal

noun

por·​tray·​al pȯr-ˈtrā(-ə)l How to pronounce portrayal (audio)
pər-
1
: the act or process or an instance of portraying : representation
2

Examples of portrayal in a Sentence

his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness
Recent Examples on the Web
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The star of the movie also briefly discussed his portrayal. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025 Tatiana Maslany anchors this Canadian potboiler with her portrayal of about a dozen (give or take) clones all built from the same original. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025 And that was a real shift in film from films of the '80s and '90s that, rightfully so, focused on portrayals of violence or HIV/AIDS. H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 Her portrayal of the U.S. president involves using an animation of his face on her body and imitating his voice. Polina Lytvynova, NPR, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for portrayal

Word History

Etymology

portray + -al entry 2

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of portrayal was in 1843

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portrayal. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

portrayal

noun
por·​tray·​al pōr-ˈtrā(-ə)l How to pronounce portrayal (audio)
pȯr-
1
: the act or process of portraying : representation
2

More from Merriam-Webster on portrayal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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