personification

noun

per·​son·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion pər-ˌsä-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: attribution of personal qualities

especially : representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form

2

: a divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or abstraction

3

: embodiment, incarnation

Did you know?

The Art of Personification

It was long common in the visual arts to use human figures to represent a range of natural phenomena, personal qualities, abstract conceptions, and so on. The Greeks and Romans showed us how. Many of their gods and goddesses themselves represented a single thing, be it dawn (Eos, Aurora), wisdom (Athena, Minerva), or war (Ares, Mars); when depicted in idealized human form (as, say, a stately woman holding a scales), each became a personification of that phenomenon or quality or concept (in this case, Justice). Inspired by classical art, Renaissance painters and sculptors likewise began producing thousands of artistic personifications--of Time, or Folly, or France, or Vice, or Poetry, or the Americas. And in the 18th century English-speakers began using the word itself. Today artists are less inclined to such depictions, and the word gets used more often to describe actual individuals; when we call someone the personification of style, or greed, or loyalty, we mean the ideal or epitome or embodiment of that quality.

Synonyms

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

Examples of personification in a Sentence

the use of personification in a story

a personification of justice as a woman with her eyes covered

Recent Examples on the Web

The corollary is that the Palestinian is a personification first and a person second. —Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024

Anchored by the Monument à la République (a depiction of Marianne, the personification of France), this place has been the setting of many significant French protests and demonstrations; on more ordinary days, the skating communities of Paris come here for the ramps and pyramids. —Tom Nouvian, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024

Norse Meaning: Of the sun goddess Sunna Peak Popularity: 1966 Fun Fact: In Norse mythology, Sunna—also known as Sól—was the personification of the sun. —Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 29 July 2024

Paxton’s character is the personification of that gut feeling that a lot of us identify with. —Max Springer, Scientific American, 17 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

personification

noun

per·​son·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion pər-ˌsän-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the representation of a thing or idea as a person or by the human form

2

: an imaginary being thought of as representing a thing or an idea

Uncle Sam is the personification of the U.S.

3

: a perfect example : embodiment

you are the very personification of generosity