depiction
noun
de·pic·tion
di-ˈpik-shən 
dē-
plural depictions
: 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
Timothy EganThe late Vermont artist Stephen Huneck made works that are instantly recognizable—bright, accessible, folky depictions of dogs enjoying themselves.—James Heflin
James HeflinBy 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
Bruce BawerExamples 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
The track is bookended by audio of a woman who sells plasma to fund her shopping addiction, a parallel to Skeletrix’s depiction of his plight as a tortured artist.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
This nerve-rattling sequence that leaves three of the Khachaturian men dead is a wrenching depiction of innocent casualties brought down by split-second combat decisions.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The Comeback’s blunt depiction of Hollywood neuroses has been ahead of the curve since its 2005 debut.
—Caroline Framke, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Information is sprung quickly and economically — her mother lives with a female partner; Diego acts troubled at school, forcing Lucila to look after him — but there’s little richness to this depiction of a fractured home.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for depiction
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.
Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
This nerve-rattling sequence that leaves three of the Khachaturian men dead is a wrenching depiction of innocent casualties brought down by split-second combat decisions.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The Comeback’s blunt depiction of Hollywood neuroses has been ahead of the curve since its 2005 debut.
—Caroline Framke, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Information is sprung quickly and economically — her mother lives with a female partner; Diego acts troubled at school, forcing Lucila to look after him — but there’s little richness to this depiction of a fractured home.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for depiction
Cite this Entry
“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depiction. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
