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portraiture

American  
[pawr-tri-cher, pohr-] / ˈpɔr trɪ tʃər, ˈpoʊr- /

noun

  1. the art or an instance of making portraits.

  2. a pictorial representation; portrait.

  3. a verbal picture.


portraiture British  
/ ˈpɔːtrɪtʃə /

noun

  1. the practice or art of making portraits

    1. another term for portrait

    2. portraits collectively

  2. a verbal description

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of portraiture

1325–75; Middle English < Middle French; portrait, -ure

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You could say that the Flemish painter, who served in the courts of two 17th-century English kings, created an imposing style of portraiture that was its own last word.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Gainsborough studied Van Dyck’s composition and color, and in maturity absorbed elements of the master—the grand scroop of silk, the drama of the gaze—into his own portraiture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

It’s a combination of the large-scale oil portraiture Finley’s become so known for, depicting a collection of faces close to him and close to L.A., plus his ceramic vessels and poetry.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

"Using drawn portraiture and movement, Rama examines the nuances of sisterhood and communal experiences," Ms Duwaji's professional website reads.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025

In these stacked blocks of portraiture, Annie stared at the camera, unchanged from frame to frame.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray