persona
per-SOH-nuh
/pərˈsoʊ.nə/
The aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others; a public role or social mask.
Emphasizes the constructed front or public identity distinguished from the true internal self.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'persona', originally referring to the theatrical mask worn by actors in Roman drama to amplify their voice and define their role.
Word relationships
- facade: 'Facade' often carries a connotation of deliberate deception, whereas persona can be a natural social presentation.
- mask: 'Mask' emphasizes concealment, while persona encompasses the whole outward social identity.
- true self: The true self represents genuine unmasked internal identity.
Commonly confused with
- personality: Personality is the sum of total authentic psychological traits; persona is the outward face shown to the world.
Word family
- personae (noun): Plural form (Latinate) of persona.
- personify (verb): To represent a quality or concept in human form.
Collocations
- public persona
- stage persona
- adopt a persona
- crafted persona
Example sentences
- "Behind his cheerful public persona lay a deeply private and contemplative man." Public Relations
- "The poet adopted a cynical persona to deliver her scathing critique of urban life." Literary Theory
Memory hook
PERSONA = PERSON's MASK worn on stage. The mask you wear when step onto the public stage.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a person's authentic private character.
Fun facts
- In Latin, 'persona' literally referred to the wooden mask through which (per-) sound (sonus-) resonated.
Related words
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