protagonist Definition
the main character in a story, play, or movie who drives the plot forward.
Using protagonist: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "protagonist" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Harry Potter is the protagonist of the Harry Potter series.
Example
In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is the male protagonist.
Example
Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist of The Hunger Games trilogy.
protagonist Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with protagonist
a main character in a tragedy who suffers a downfall due to a tragic flaw or fate
Example
Oedipus is a tragic protagonist in the play Oedipus Rex.
a main character who is not likable or relatable to the audience
Example
Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye is an example of an unsympathetic protagonist.
female protagonist
a main character in a story who identifies as female
Example
Hermione Granger is a female protagonist in the Harry Potter series.
Origins of protagonist
from Greek 'protos' meaning 'first' + 'agonistes' meaning 'actor'
Summary: protagonist in Brief
A protagonist [proh-tag-uh-nist] is the main character in a story, play, or movie who drives the plot forward. Examples include Harry Potter, Romeo, and Katniss Everdeen. A tragic protagonist suffers a downfall, while an unsympathetic protagonist is not likable. A female protagonist identifies as female.