protagonist

noun

pro·​tag·​o·​nist prō-ˈta-gə-nist 

1

a(1)

: the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story)

(2)

: the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc.

b

: an active participant in an event

2

: a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion

Did you know?

Struggle, or conflict, is central to drama. The protagonist or hero of a play, novel, or film is involved in a struggle of some kind, either against someone or something else or even against his or her own emotions. So the hero is the "first struggler", which is the literal meaning of the Greek word prōtagōnistēs. A character who opposes the hero is the antagonist, from a Greek verb that means literally "to struggle against".

Synonyms

• advocate
• advocator
• apostle
• backer
• booster
• champion
• espouser
• exponent
• expounder
• friend
• gospeler
• gospeller
• herald
• hierophant
• high priest
• paladin
• promoter
• proponent
• supporter
• true believer
• tub-thumper
• white knight

Examples of protagonist in a Sentence

Badlands has two protagonists and Days of Heaven four (though both movies are rich in colorful minor roles). —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Mar. 1999

The protagonists of Gordon's fiction are children who have been saddled with their parents' emotional bad debts. —Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 1990

The most adamant opposition to my argument is likely to come from protagonists of secular reason … —Glenn Finder, Atlantic, December 1989

She was a leading protagonist in the civil rights movement.

Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism.

Recent Examples on the Web

The three main protagonists are a celebrated actress, her wealthy businessman husband who is kidnapped and a policeman who was the woman’s friend in earlier years but who has become estranged. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024

Since the Season 2 finale (recapped here) left them behind in France so that young Laurent could fly safely away with Ash, our indestructible protagonists are on the hunt for a new way to get back Stateside. —Charlie Mason, TVLine, 3 Nov. 2024

Like Mean Girls, the film focuses on the struggles of fitting in, but Bottoms takes a more daring approach, with its protagonists embracing their outsider status in an unexpected way. —Jane Lacroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

The very concept of supernatural evil is itself socially conservative, as illustrated by movies like The Blair Witch Project and The Ring, in which skeptical protagonists try to prove an occult legend false only to fall victim to its fatal reality. —David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek prōtagōnistēs, from prōt- prot- + agōnistēs competitor at games, actor, from agōnizesthai to compete, from agōn contest, competition at games — more at agony

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

protagonist

noun

pro·​tag·​o·​nist prō-ˈtag-ə-nəst 

: the chief character in a play, novel, or story