depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən 

dē-

plural depictions

: a representation in words or images of someone or something

The book is fascinating in its depiction of the country's early history.

The first part of the book … is a depiction of the nearly lost world of a North American hunter-gatherer community.

—Timothy Egan

The late Vermont artist Stephen Huneck made works that are instantly recognizable—bright, accessible, folky depictions of dogs enjoying themselves.

—James Heflin

By comparison with the depiction of domesticity in such 1950s staples as The Donna Reed Show and Ozzie and Harriet, the portrait of family life on The Dick Van Dyke Show, the emblematic sitcom of the early 1960s, seemed staggering in its sheer smartness and casual elegance.

—Bruce Bawer

Synonyms

• definition
• delineation
• description
• picture
• portrait
• portraiture
• portrayal
• rendering
• sketch
• vignette

Examples of depiction in a Sentence

the set piece of the novel is a depiction of the battle that makes readers feel like they were there

Recent Examples on the Web

Albanese cited the risks to the physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content aimed at boys. —Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Its depiction is based on the real-life mobster Tony Spilotro’s association with the Las Vegas Tower of Pizza restaurant in the 1960s. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

The giant depiction of a hand, with the artist’s face embedded in it has divided opinion since its installation in 2019. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 1 Nov. 2024

The incorporation of oysters, embroidery inspired by fishing ropes, and the depiction of underwater formations through the embroidery techniques reflected the cultural roots of Saudi Arabia in a contemporary fashion language. —Ritu Upadhyay, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above