personification

[ per-son-uh-fi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure.
2. the representation of a thing or abstraction in the form of a person, as in art.
3. the person or thing embodying a quality or the like; an embodiment or incarnation:

   He is the personification of tact.

4. an imaginary person or creature conceived or figured to represent a thing or abstraction.
5. the act of personifying; the attributing of human qualities to an animal, object, or abstraction:

   The author's personification of the farm animals made for an enchanting children's book.

6. a character portrayal or representation in a dramatic or literary work.

personification

/ pɜːˌsɒnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the attribution of human characteristics to things, abstract ideas, etc, as for literary or artistic effect
2. the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc, as in art and literature
3. a person or thing that personifies
4. a person or thing regarded as an embodiment of a quality

   he is the personification of optimism

Other Words From

• per·soni·fi·cator noun
• nonper·soni·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of personification¹

First recorded in 1745–55; personi(fy) + -fication

Example Sentences

Sinwar was not just the military and then the political leader of Hamas, but also its very personification, in much the same way that Saddam Hussein was the emblem of Iraq’s Baathist Party and Adolf Hitler was the sworn-to demigod of the Nazis.

From Slate

The personification of the state and its utilization as a means of selective punishment is precisely what America’s founding fathers fought against.

From Salon

When the personification of Mandrex asks her why she’s allowing him to make a film about the end of her life, Maria tells him that she wants an aria as part of her third act.

From Salon

It’s the personification of a hug from Nana.

From Los Angeles Times

"The personification of Mike Jeffries is Abercrombie. He had the hair plugs, the plastic surgery, he wore the clothes, he wore the flip-flops. I mean, you talk about power. He projected his image on the entire country. His places where he lived were literally an Abercrombie store. It was like fantasy land," he says.

From BBC