persona: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Semi-formal. Common in academic, literary, psychological, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “persona” mean?
the aspect of someone's character or identity that is presented to or perceived by others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the aspect of someone's character or identity that is presented to or perceived by others; a public image or role.
In psychology, the mask or facade presented to satisfy the expectations of others. In branding/marketing, a fictional archetype representing a key segment of an audience. In literary analysis, the assumed voice or identity from which a story is told.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally used and understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in literary and psychological contexts in British English; more common in marketing/business contexts (e.g., 'buyer persona') in American English.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “persona” in a Sentence
[verb] a persona (adopt, assume, create, project)[adjective] persona (public, false, online, stage)persona [verb] (cracks, slips, emerges)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “persona” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In marketing, a 'buyer persona' is a detailed profile of an ideal customer.
Academic
Jungian psychology analyses the 'persona' as the social face an individual adopts.
Everyday
He's very shy, but he puts on a confident persona at work.
Technical
In UX design, creating user personas helps in understanding target audience needs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “persona”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “persona”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “persona”
- Using it as a synonym for 'person' (e.g., 'Three personas arrived' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'personality' (Personality is innate; persona is performed).
- Incorrect plural: 'personas' is standard; 'personae' is also correct but rarer and more technical.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Personality' refers to an individual's entire set of enduring behavioural and mental traits. 'Persona' specifically refers to the social mask or role presented to the outside world, which may only be one aspect of the full personality.
Yes, it is often neutral. A 'professional persona' is often seen as positive and appropriate. It can have a negative connotation when it implies deception (a 'false persona').
Yes, 'personae' is the Latin plural and is used, particularly in academic and literary contexts. However, the anglicised plural 'personas' is more common in everyday, business, and general usage.
It is commonly used to describe one's online identity or profile (e.g., 'social media persona'). It can also refer to fictional user profiles created for design purposes ('UX personas').
the aspect of someone's character or identity that is presented to or perceived by others.
Persona is usually formal, semi-formal. common in academic, literary, psychological, and business contexts. in register.
Persona: in British English it is pronounced /pɜːˈsəʊ.nə/, and in American English it is pronounced /pɚˈsoʊ.nə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Behind the public persona lies a more private individual.”
- “His stage persona is much more extroverted than he is in real life.”
- “The scandal caused her carefully constructed persona to crumble.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PERSON on stage wearing a mask. PERSON + MASK = PERSONA (the public mask a person shows).
Conceptual Metaphor
IDENTITY IS A MASK/CLOTHING (e.g., 'put on a persona', 'shed one's persona').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'persona' LEAST likely to be used?