dramatization

noun

dra·​ma·​ti·​za·​tion ˌdra-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌdrä-

1

: the action of dramatizing

2

: a dramatized version (as of a novel)

Synonyms of dramatization

• drama
• play

Examples of dramatization in a Sentence

a dramatization of a true story

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, is a dramatization of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes’s (a gutting performance from Jessie Buckley) relationship after the death of their young child, which inspires the Bard to write Hamlet. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2025

Tagawa was given his real breakthrough by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, who chose him for his Oscar-winning 1987 film , a dramatization of the life of China’s final monarch of the Qing dynasty, Emperor Puyi. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

The story is a dramatization of an actual occurrence, when a chance jam session in December of 1956 gathered the musicians together. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025

Organizers say the highlight of the 20-minute performance is a live dramatization on the balconies above K Street with a special appearance by Jack Frost. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dramatization

• self-dramatization

Rhymes for dramatization

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Medical Definition

dramatization

noun

dra·​ma·​ti·​za·​tion

variants or British dramatisation

ˌdram-ət-ə-ˈzā-shən, ˌdräm- 

: the transformation which in psychoanalytic theory the underlying dream thoughts undergo into dramatic and pictorial form before they can take part in the actual dream