Portrayal Meaning
/ˌpɔɹˈtɹeɪ.əl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe act of portraying.
nounThe result of portraying; a representation, description, or portrait.
Sentence Examples
That film was an extremely inaccurate portrayal of key historical events.
Pornography is a sinful and immoral portrayal of human sexuality.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The actor's ____ of the villain was very convincing to the audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Critics praised the actor's nuanced ____ of the complex historical figure in the biopic.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English portray Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English portrayal From portray + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Dickens was the quintessential actor, luxuriating in the portrayal of his idiosyncratic characters. In contrast, more than a characterist, Poe was above all a wonderfully musical reader, […]"
— 1994, Sara K. Schneider, Concert Song as Seen, page 28:
"Images of Dutchness in American visual culture and literature during the nineteenth century differed radically between portrayals of the Netherlands Dutch and those of the American Dutch."
— 2009, Hans Krabbendam, Cornelis A. van Minnen, Giles Scott-Smith, Four Centuries of Dutch-American Relations: 1609-2009, page 238:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The actor's ____ of the villain was very convincing to the audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Critics praised the actor's nuanced ____ of the complex historical figure in the biopic.