plural personae pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē How to pronounce persona (audio)
-ˌnī
or personas
Synonyms of persona
1
: a character assumed by an author in a written work
2
a
plural personas [New Latin, from Latin] : an individual's social facade or front that especially in the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung reflects the role in life the individual is playing compare anima
b
: the personality that a person (such as an actor or politician) projects in public : image
3
plural personae : a character in a fictional presentation (such as a novel or play)
usually plural
comic personae

Examples of persona in a Sentence

His public persona is that of a strong, determined leader, but in private life he's very insecure. The band takes on a whole new persona when they perform live.
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.
Related Stories Romance, in terms of genre, is a first for the idiosyncratic director who has often constructed his films around his own persona, appearing as the central character. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 Other biopics seek to peel back the layers of a public persona; Primetime puts forth a version of Hansen where the surface is all there is. Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026 His public persona runs directly counter to ESPN’s stated preference for avoiding unnecessary conflict. Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Her hair-and-makeup team completed the edgy look with thick black eyeliner, bold mascara, blue eyeshadow, and a dark pink lip that adds a severity to her formidable extraterrestrial persona. Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for persona

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of persona was in 1732

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Persona.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Medical Definition

plural personas
: an individual's social facade or front that especially in the analytical psychology of C. G. Jung reflects the role in life the individual is playing compare anima sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on persona

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