avatar

The word “avatar” means a small picture or digital figure that represents a person online, such as on a forum or social media profile. In plain terms, a picture or character that stands in for a real person online — or, originally, a god's appearance on earth.

“Avatar” is pronounced uh-tahr (/ˈæv.ə.tɑɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “avatar” used in a sentence: “She changed her avatar to a photo of her dog.”

“Avatar” is a noun.

The word “avatar” dates back to around 1980 and comes from Sanskrit. From Sanskrit avatara, "descent of a deity," borrowed into English in the 18th century; the online-profile meaning grew out of its use in 1980s video games.

“Avatar” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Avatar” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small picture or digital figure that represents a person online, such as on a forum or social media profile.

A profile picture is typically a photo or image chosen to represent a person online, while an avatar can be that same small picture but often specifically refers to a digital figure or character, sometimes customizable, used to represent someone on a forum, social media, or in a game.

In a video game, an avatar is the digital character that represents the player within the game or virtual world, allowing them to move, interact, and be seen by other players.

In Hindu belief, an avatar is the earthly incarnation of a god, especially Vishnu, taking physical form to appear in the world. The modern digital meaning of avatar borrows from this idea of a form representing something else.