What does personification mean?
Personification is the practice of representing something nonhuman as if it were human. It can give an object, place, animal, natural phenomenon, or abstract idea human emotions, intentions, speech, or behavior. A writer might describe the wind as a demanding traveler, the moon as a jealous observer, or a ship as a weary survivor. In literary analysis, personification is commonly identified as a figurative device because it gives abstract or inanimate things recognizable human qualities. The word is also used more broadly for the deliberate act of making something seem human, although “anthropomorphism” is often the more specific term when animals, objects, or divine beings are discussed. Personification is especially common in poetry, folklore, children's writing, advertising, and descriptions of landscapes, where it adds vitality, personality, or emotional depth.
nounThe representation of an object, place, idea, or natural phenomenon as though it possessed human qualities, emotions, or actions. It is also used for the act of attributing such human characteristics to something nonhuman.
- The representation of something nonhuman as possessing human qualities, emotions, or actions.
- The act or technique of attributing human characteristics to an object, place, idea, or natural phenomenon.
"The poet's striking personification of the wind as a restless traveler transformed the landscape into a living scene."
"The description of the moon as a watchful sentinel is a memorable personification."
"Her use of personification gave the abandoned house the unsettling presence of a living person."
Used when referring to multiple examples, instances, or acts of personification.
"The novel contains striking personifications of the city and its weather."
Personification lets the silent world speak: the wind sighs, the sea complains, and flowers greet the returning sun.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does personification come from?
The word entered English in the late Middle English period through Latin forms associated with personificare, “to make into a person.” These forms were built upon persona, the Latin word for a person or mask, and connected with the suffix elements meaning “to make” and “to become.” The same Latin root underlies related English words such as personal, personality, and persona, as well as cognates in many European languages.
Related word forms
How personification is actually used
Personification is used in literature, rhetoric, criticism, and everyday discussion. It can describe an individual figure, such as a talking stream, or a sustained artistic technique. The term often carries a neutral critical sense but may also imply exaggeration or sentimentality.
Easily confused with personification
Personification is the broader literary or rhetorical practice of giving nonhuman things human qualities, while anthropomorphism specifically refers to attributing human characteristics to animals, objects, or deities.