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

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

Trashed by her enemies and malevolently mythologized in history, de’ Medici is often seen today as the personification of evil. —Dave Kindy, Washington Post, 10 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