depiction

noun

de·​pic·​tion di-ˈpik-shən How to pronounce depiction (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The team created ceiling frescoes reminiscent of artist Israel Rubinstein’s playful depictions of gaming scenes, and also looked to the works of Salvador Dalí and Meret Oppenheim for other inspiration. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 13 May 2025 Outside of the emotional rollercoaster of Keisha and Justin’s romance, the series offers generous and glittering depictions of family, friendship and young adulthood. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 May 2025 Beyoncé has removed the depiction of the Sphere from her Cowboy Carter tour visuals following a cease-and-desist issued from the venue’s owner. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 5 May 2025 But fans quickly spotted that, despite the saber in hand, the president's galactic depiction appeared to have more in common with Darth Vader than Obi-Wan Kenobi. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for depiction

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of depiction was in 1688

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Cite this Entry

“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depiction. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

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