# avatar

/ˈævəˌtɑɹ/ (US) · /ˈævɐtˌɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/avatar
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. online profile picture

noun · CEFR B1

a small picture or icon that you choose to represent yourself on a website or social media.

For teachers: a static or nearly static digital image used as a graphical representation of a user in non-immersive digital environments.

- I decided to change my avatar to a photo of my cat.
- The forum allows users to upload a custom avatar, though many prefer to use the default geometric patterns provided by the system.

### 2. virtual character

noun · CEFR B1

a digital character that you control in a video game or a virtual world.

For teachers: a dynamic digital model or character representing a person in a virtual world, metaverse, or gaming environment.

- You can customise your avatar's clothes and hair in the game.
- In the virtual meeting space, my avatar can walk around and interact with other participants as if we were in the same room.

### 3. divine incarnation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a god appearing on Earth in a physical body, especially in Hinduism.

For teachers: the incarnation of a deity in human or animal form on Earth, particularly associated with the god Vishnu.

- In Hindu stories, Krishna is described as an avatar of Vishnu.
- The temple features various carvings depicting the ten primary avatars of the deity, each representing a different stage of cosmic evolution.

### 4. embodiment of a quality

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a person who is a perfect example of a particular idea or quality.

For teachers: the manifest embodiment or personification of a specific concept, principle, or quality.

- To his followers, the leader was the avatar of hope and change.
- The protagonist is presented as an avatar of stoicism, remaining entirely unmoved by the chaotic events unfolding around him.

## Examples

- I spent an hour choosing the perfect clothes for my gaming avatar.
- Many users prefer to use a cartoon avatar rather than a real photo to protect their privacy on public forums.
- In the metaverse, your avatar serves as your primary interface for social interaction, allowing you to express personality through digital fashion and body language in a three-dimensional space.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.