Meaning & use

portrayal

noun·Academic

The way a person, character, or event is represented or depicted in art, writing, or performance.

See it in a sentence

Critics praised the actor's portrayal of a soldier struggling with the aftermath of war.

The novel's portrayal of city life felt authentic to readers who had grown up there.

A note on using this word

Portrayal implies an interpretive choice by an artist or writer, so it's often modified by adjectives like sensitive, accurate, or unflattering.

Words with a similar meaning

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