depiction

noun

plural depictions
Synonyms of depiction
: 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.
Labeled by the press as a farmer and his wife, the depiction of the couple found detractors in both Iowans and art critics. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 To give the clearest picture of the shadow cast by the arch, shadows from the trees and other structures are not included in the to-scale depiction below. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 So the ability for people to make visual depictions and reach towards cinematic success became more palpable or more accessible. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026 The series’ shallow approach to gender doesn’t just weaken its depiction of the three female participants. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depiction. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster