avatar

noun

av·​a·​tar ˈa-və-ˌtär 

plural avatars

1

: an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user

The average Fortnite player spends hundreds of hours in the game with a personal avatar, fighting with and interacting with the avatars of other players.

—Brian X. Chen

compare non-player character, npc

2

: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (such as Vishnu)

3

a

: an incarnation in human form

b

: an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person

… his series hero is about as pure an avatar of freedom as you will find in modern fiction …

—Sam Leith

4

: a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity

the latest avatar of the conservative movement

Did you know?

Avatar derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "descent," and when it first appeared in English in the late 18th century, it referred to the descent of a deity to the earth—typically, the incarnation in earthly form of Vishnu or another Hindu deity. It later came to refer to any incarnation in human form, and then to any embodiment (such as that of a concept or philosophy), whether or not in the form of a person. In the age of technology, avatar has developed another sense—it can now be used for the image that a person chooses as his or her "embodiment" in an electronic medium.

Synonyms

• abstract
• embodier
• embodiment
• epitome
• externalization
• genius
• icon
• ikon
• image
• incarnation
• incorporation
• instantiation
• manifestation
• objectification
• personification
• personifier

Examples of avatar in a Sentence

She has come to be regarded as an avatar of charity and concern for the poor.

She chose a penguin as her personal avatar in the chat room.

Recent Examples on the Web

For many Western viewers, their first exposure to the Ramayana’s influence was the Oscar-winning, crossover Tollywood hit RRR, whose climax transformed real-world freedom fighters Alluri Sitaram Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) into avatars for Ram and Hanuman respectively. —Siddhant Adlakha, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

One former employee told me Özer’s avatar on the in-house messaging system was an image of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character from The Wolf of Wall Street. —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024

Apple has reportedly improved the Vision Pro avatars to capture different facial expressions and hairstyles. —Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024

What is the Sims about? Instead following a plot, Sims users play as multiple avatars with various personality traits, skills and relationships. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

If there were an avatar for the soul of March Madness, consider Oakland’s Golden Grizzlies, whose coach, Greg Kampe, is in his 40th season. —Billy Witz, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

Sims is a life simulation computer game where players play as an avatar that has changeable personality traits, skills, and relationships, and goes through the mundane tasks of daily life like making dinner and decorating a home. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024

The teen series follows Lay Lay (Alaya High), an avatar from an affirmation app who magically comes to life after her best friend Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh) wishes on a star. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Will Quentin Tarantino have retired, only to be replaced by an AI avatar? —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent, from avatarati he descends, from ava- away + tarati he crosses over — more at ukase, through entry 1

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

avatar

noun

av·​a·​tar

ˈa-və-ˌtär

1

: someone who represents a type of person, an idea, or a quality

2

: an electronic image that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user (as in a game)