person

noun per·son \ˈpər-s^ən\

: a human being

: a person who likes or enjoys something specified

law : the body or clothing of a person especially when considered as a place to hide things

Full Definition of PERSON

: human, individual —sometimes used in combination especially by those who prefer to avoid man in compounds applicable to both sexes <chairperson> <spokesperson>

: a character or part in or as if in a play : guise

a : one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians

b : the unitary personality of Christ that unites the divine and human natures

a archaic : bodily appearance

b : the body of a human being; also : the body and clothing <unlawful search of the person>

: the personality of a human being : self

: one (as a human being, a partnership, or a corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties

: reference of a segment of discourse to the speaker, to one spoken to, or to one spoken of as indicated by means of certain pronouns or in many languages by verb inflection

— per·son·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun

— in person

: in one's bodily presence <the movie star appeared in person>

See person defined for English-language learners

See person defined for kids

Origin of PERSON

Middle English, from Anglo-French persone, from Latin persona actor's mask, character in a play, person, probably from Etruscan phersu mask, from Greek prosōpa, plural of prosōpon face, mask — more at prosopopoeia

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PERSON

Synonyms: baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, human, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight

Rhymes with PERSON

worsen

PERSON Defined for Kids

person

noun per·son \ˈpər-s^ən\

Definition of PERSON for Kids

: a human being considered as an individual <I had never heard a person speak Arabic.> Hint:The word person is sometimes used in compounds especially to avoid man in words that apply to both sexes. <chairperson>

: the body of a human being <Keep your person neat.>