English Reference
Noun

personification

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US /pɝˌsɑnəfəˈkeɪʃən/ UK /pɜːsˈɒnɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/ per·son·i·fi·ca·tion UK spelling personifications

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.


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.

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.

The Guardian· 20 Aug 2026

From person(ify) + -ification.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated