What Is a Protagonist? | Definition & Examples

A protagonist is the main character in a work of fiction. It is a noun that can be used in a more general sense outside of fiction to refer to the principal people involved in a real-life situation. This use is less common, however.

The idea of a protagonist comes from ancient Greek drama and refers to the actor who plays the main role in a play and is often opposed by an antagonist.

Protagonist and antagonist

In works of fiction, a main character (the protagonist) is often opposed by another character (the antagonist) who is hostile to them and their aims. Often the antagonist is a negative character or villain, especially if the protagonist is heroic and good. However, the opposite can also be true (i.e., if the protagonist is a villain, then the antagonist can be a heroic nemesis).

In more general use, antagonist can be used to describe any people who are in opposition. In this case, there is often no negative connotation, and both sides in a dispute can be referred to as the antagonists.

Frequently asked questions about protagonists

What is a synonym for protagonist?

There are many different possible synonyms for protagonist including:

Main character in fiction	Leader of the action in an event	Leading person in a cause
Hero(ine)	Main figure	Champion
Central figure	Actor	Exponent
Main character	Key figure	Advocate
Lead(ing) character	Principal player	Supporter
		Upholder
		Promoter
		Proponent

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What is the opposite of protagonist?

In literary analysis, the opposite of a protagonist is an antagonist, which refers to a character who opposes the protagonist. Often, they are a villain, but this is not always the case.

Outside of literature, there are antonyms for protagonist, including:

• Enemy
• Critic
• Opponent
• Rival
• Adversary
• Foe

Try QuillBot’s rephraser to easily find new ways of expressing your meaning.