portrayal

/ˌpɔɹˈtɹeɪ.əl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: portrayals

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The act of portraying.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The result of portraying; a representation, description, or portrait.

Noun

Examples

1866, Charlotte Yonge, The Dove in the Eagle's Nest He had already designed the portrayal of his father as the old white king, and himself as the young white king, in a series of woodcuts illustrating the narrative which culminated in the one romance of his life, ...

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “portrayal” mean?

The act of portraying.

Is “portrayal” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.