protagonist
/pɹəˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: protagonists
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A leading person in a contest; a principal performer.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “protagonist” mean?
The main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.
Is “protagonist” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.