protagonist

C1 Topic:Entertainment & Leisure

US /pɹoʊˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/ UK /pɹəˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #24326

Meanings

1

noun
The main character in a story, film, or play.

The protagonist of the novel is a young detective.
2

noun
An important supporter or leader of a cause or idea.

She was a leading protagonist of the reform movement.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the main character in a... agonist

2 noun · an important supporter or... champion

Opposites

antagonist

Word family

Forms protagonists

Derived forms coprotagonistnonprotagonistprotagonistic

Related forms agonistagonistes

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).

*h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European πρωταγωνιστής Ancient Greek

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Topics

Entertainment & Leisure Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# protagonist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pɹoʊˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 24326

## Meanings
1. The main character in a story, film, or play.
2. An important supporter or leader of a cause or idea.

## Examples
- The protagonist of the novel is a young detective.
- She was a leading protagonist of the reform movement.

## Antonyms
- antagonist

## Derived Forms
- coprotagonist
- nonprotagonist
- protagonistic

## Related Forms
- agonist
- agonistes

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eǵ-
- Root: πρωταγωνιστής
- Affix: proto- - first

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).

## AI Etymology
Protagonist is from Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean the main character in a story, film, or play, or an important supporter or leader of a cause or idea. Related forms include agonist, agonistes. Derived formations include coprotagonist, nonprotagonist, protagonistic.

## Topics
- Entertainment & Leisure
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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protagonist

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