Word
personification
Phoneticsper·son·i·fi·ca·tion, stress on the fifth syllable
US/pɝˌsɑnəfəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/pɜːsˈɒnɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of giving human qualities or feelings to something that is not a person, like an animal or an object. It can also mean a person who represents a specific quality or idea.
n. the attribution of human characteristics, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. Also refers to a person who serves as a living embodiment of a specific quality or concept.
Examples
“The poet uses personification to describe the wind as a whispering friend.”
“In many ancient myths, the sun is a personification of power and warmth, often depicted as a god driving a chariot across the sky.”
“The author's protagonist is a clear personification of the era's social unrest, embodying the frustration and hope of a generation caught between tradition and modernity.”
Examples
simple
“The poet uses personification to describe the wind as a whispering friend.”
contextual
“In many ancient myths, the sun is a personification of power and warmth, often depicted as a god driving a chariot across the sky.”
complex
“The author's protagonist is a clear personification of the era's social unrest, embodying the frustration and hope of a generation caught between tradition and modernity.”
Real-World Examples
“Phobos and Deimos take their names from the Greek mythological personifications of fear and terror, sons of the war god Ares, whose Roman counterpart is Mars.” “So the Entendre persona is like a personification of all the coping mechanisms I’ve used throughout my life and all the masks I’ve worn.” “Given these results, the personification of Covid-19 may have been a natural reaction to the huge uncertainty of the pandemic, Waytz suspects.” “Like Christ, he is the personification of love.” Etymology
From person(ify) + -ification.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/personification