plural portrayals
1
: the act of showing or describing someone or something especially in a painting, book, etc.
—often + of
We will examine Edgar Allan Poe's portrayal of women in his stories.
The book is an accurate portrayal of his life.
I don't accept his portrayal of himself as an innocent victim. [=I don't believe that he is an innocent victim, as he claims to be]
2
: the way in which an actor plays a character
—often + of
Laurence Olivier's portrayal of Hamlet was brilliant.
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/portrayal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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