protagonist

noun

pro·​tag·​o·​nist prō-ˈta-gə-nist 

1

a(1)

: the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story)

(2)

: the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc.

b

: an active participant in an event

2

: a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion

Did you know?

Struggle, or conflict, is central to drama. The protagonist or hero of a play, novel, or film is involved in a struggle of some kind, either against someone or something else or even against his or her own emotions. So the hero is the "first struggler", which is the literal meaning of the Greek word prōtagōnistēs. A character who opposes the hero is the antagonist, from a Greek verb that means literally "to struggle against".

Synonyms

• proponent
• advocate
• supporter
• advocator
• exponent
• friend

Examples of protagonist in a Sentence

Badlands has two protagonists and Days of Heaven four (though both movies are rich in colorful minor roles). —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Mar. 1999

The protagonists of Gordon's fiction are children who have been saddled with their parents' emotional bad debts. —Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 1990

The most adamant opposition to my argument is likely to come from protagonists of secular reason … —Glenn Finder, Atlantic, December 1989

She was a leading protagonist in the civil rights movement.

Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gi-hun himself proved a tough protagonist to root for when the show began, as a foolish gambling addict hoping to reconnect with his family but who becomes obsessed with the games anyway. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025

On Gi-Hun’s Transformation From Squid Game Season 1 to Squid Game Seasons 2 And 3 In Squid Game Lee plays the protagonist Seong Gi-hun, a divorced father and gambling addict who enters the games for a chance to pay off his debts, pay for his mother’s medical treatment and provide for his daughter. —Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Like Humbert Humbert in Nabokov’s Lolita, which Oates’ protagonist references and dismisses frequently, Fox’s story is inescapably abhorrent yet enthralling. —Book Marks june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

Pixar’s Lightyear is, according to the title sequence, the favorite movie of Toy Story protagonist Andy, a fictional movie within a real one. —Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek prōtagōnistēs, from prōt- prot- + agōnistēs competitor at games, actor, from agōnizesthai to compete, from agōn contest, competition at games — more at agony

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for protagonist

• antagonist
• agonist

Kids Definition

protagonist

noun

pro·​tag·​o·​nist prō-ˈtag-ə-nəst 

: the chief character in a play, novel, or story