portrait

1 of 2

noun

por·​trait ˈpȯr-trət 

-ˌtrāt

1

: picture

especially : a pictorial representation of a person usually showing the face

2

: a sculptured figure : bust

3

: a graphic portrayal in words

portrait

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being a rectangular document having the vertical dimension longer than the horizontal dimension

switching from landscape to portrait mode

compare landscape sense 3

Synonyms

Noun

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

Examples of portrait in a Sentence

Noun

The queen posed for her portrait.

The book presents a portrait of life in a small town.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On the one hand, armor, as Wiley sees it, is a metaphor for portrait painting itself. —Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024

Instead of Black life maimed, denuded of dignity, and degraded, each portrait that makes up I, Narcissus is a study of delicious glamour. —Essence, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

The small park behind Tahrir Square has been divided by tents, one of which has become a steadily expanding portrait gallery with photographs of those who have been killed by the security forces. —Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2020

Yet for all the darkness, there’s a welcome and important dose of levity too, from a hilarious video of a beauty products fair by María Luisa Bemberg to Regina Vater’s playful, costumed self-portrait photographs. —New York Times, 4 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French pourtraict, portraict "image, representation," going back to Old French portret, noun derivative from past participle of pourtraire "to represent, depict" — more at portray

Adjective

from attributive use of portrait entry 1; so called because such a format is customarily used for portraits

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1975, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing portrait

• self-portrait

Kids Definition

portrait

1 of 2 noun

por·​trait

ˈpōr-trət,

ˈpȯr-,

-ˌtrāt

1

: a picture of a person usually showing the face

2

: a portrayal in words

portrait

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a rectangular document having the vertical dimension longer than the horizontal dimension

printed in portrait mode

compare landscape