# What's the word for this...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207 "2010-09-01T00:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/1 "2010-09-01T00:43:12Z")
What is the word for when someone is the symbolic spirit of an inanimate entity or group? It is not “embodiment” nor “personification” nor “anthropromorphism” nor “epitome” nor quintessential". On a smaller scale, you might say “so and so is the poster child for such and such”, but there is one word (in American English) to say someone is this. Any guesses? I’m sure we’re bound to hut upon it. Dang, it’s on the tip of my tongue! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/2 "2010-09-01T00:48:23Z")
The words you used sound fine. I would make a more complex reference, like ‘You are the DNA based version of a garbage disposal’ if those words hadn’t sufficed. But don’t go by me, I’ll say anything. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/3 "2010-09-01T00:50:15Z")
Archetype? Iconic? ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/4 "2010-09-01T01:03:44Z")
mascot? vanguard? flag bearer? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/5 "2010-09-01T01:07:21Z")
Incarnation, objectification, manifestation? (Thesauri are fun.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/6 "2010-09-01T01:11:32Z")
Paragon? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/7 "2010-09-01T01:34:01Z")
2nd definition **apo·the·o·ses** -ˌsēz\*_Definition of APOTHEOSIS_\* 1 **:** elevation to divine status **:** [deification](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deification) 2 **:** the perfect example **:** [quintessence](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quintessence) \ — **apo·the·o·size** \ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsīz, ə-ˈpä-thē-ə-\ _transitive verb_ ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/8 "2010-09-01T01:39:45Z")
Perhaps “avatar”? ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/9 "2010-09-01T01:48:49Z")
figurehead? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/10 "2010-09-01T01:52:49Z")
I came to say incarnation, but I like apotheosis better. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-this/552207/11 "2010-09-01T01:59:20Z")
Do you have any specific examples of what you’re talking about?