protagonist
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the main character in a book, film, or play.
the principal character in a literary work, film, or drama, around whom the plot revolves.
Simple“In the novel, the protagonist must decide between his family and his career.”
In context“The author challenges traditional tropes by creating a protagonist whose moral ambiguity makes it difficult for the audience to offer their full sympathy.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
an important person who leads a movement or supports a particular cause.
a leading figure, advocate, or champion of a particular cause, movement, or course of action.
Simple“She was a key protagonist in the fight for better working conditions.”
In context“Historians identify him as a central protagonist in the reform movement, noting his ability to unify disparate political factions under a single banner.”
“Simply by making affluent black Africans the protagonists, she says she has opened many people's eyes.”
“Metroid turned 40 at the end of last week – and so did Samus Aran, one of the earliest female protagonists in video games.”
From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.