pro·file
ˈprō-ˌfī(-ə)l 
plural profiles
1
: a representation of something in outline
especially
: a human head or face represented or seen in a side view
The first coins featuring King Charles's profile have been issued by the Royal Mint … —
Jessica Knibbs
Jessica Knibbs There were … larger spaces of bare wall ornamented with charcoal sketches, chiefly of people's heads in profile. —Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne By the moonlight, Lady Dedlock can be seen in profile, perfectly still. —Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens 2
: an outline seen or represented in sharp relief : contour
"The main features of the design have to do with its site in the foothills of very beautiful mountains. The profile is a jagged line of silhouettes behind this building. We felt it was important to not compete with the majestic profile of these mountains," [Audrey] Matlock says.—Denise Kalette
Denise Kalette3
: a side or sectional elevation: such as
a
: a drawing showing a vertical section of the ground
b
: a vertical section of a soil from the ground surface to the underlying unweathered material
4
: a set of data often in graphic form portraying the significant features of something
They will then evaluate the fundamental characteristics of those stocks, such as earnings profiles and valuations. …—Perle Battistella
Perle Battistella
especially
: a graph representing the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings
5
a
: a concise biographical sketch
The Vanity Fair feature, a profile of [Amy] Poehler and [Maya] Rudolph, reports that "Wine Country" goes above and beyond that standard, with the film featuring zero straight men talking to each other.—Kevin Slane
Kevin Slane
b
: a collection of personal details about oneself that one curates and shares on an online platform (such as a blog or a social media service)
… when Anderson sat down that year to create an online-dating profile, she was strategic.—Taffy Brodessr-Akner
Taffy Brodessr-AknerThey have left [their jobs] or are about to go, one into consultancy and a "career break" (according to her Linkedin profile), the other to become a partner at PWC.—Katherine Griffiths
Katherine GriffithsThese short-term gigs fit into the time you have available, and are easy to find: simply go online to one of many sites designed to pair people with projects, and apply for jobs, advertise your skills, or set up a profile and offer your services for tasks that employers have posted.—Donna Freedman
Donna Freedman6
: degree or level of public exposure
Together, they helped bring Nashville's burgeoning noncountry scene to new prominence, and as the city's profile rose, so did their own.—Dave Paulson
Dave PaulsonAfter leaving New York in 1990 all but broken following the failure of his hot spot Rakel, the chef kept a low profile in L.A. before eventually scraping together the money to buy a modest Napa Valley restaurant called The French Laundry.—Jay Cheshes
Jay Cheshes7
: a distinctive combination of characteristics
The evolution of the scent profile, from floral and energetic to smoky and calm, makes this cologne a great choice for a date or an evening in the town.—Will Briskin
Will BriskinWhat's striking about so many of the Santa Rita Pinots is that they share a flavor profile, with rich, vivid blueberry and wild berry fruit.—James Laube
James Laube
profiled; profiling
1
: to represent in profile or by a profile : produce (as by drawing, writing, or graphing) a profile of
2
: to shape the outline of by passing a cutter around
3
: to subject to profiling
profiler
noun
Examples of profile in a Sentence
Noun
His profile is very unusual.
An image of the President's profile appears on the coin.
I read a profile of her in a magazine.
Verb
The mayor was profiled in the magazine last month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
His mother is a geriatric psychiatrist, according to a December New Yorker profile.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Her career generated intrigue from fans and the media, and in July the Sunday Times profiled her.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for profile 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The Freaks List is The Athletic sportswriter Bruce Feldman's annual ode to college football players who have athletically freakish profiles.
—Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
His mother is a geriatric psychiatrist, according to a December New Yorker profile.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
Newsweek first profiled Rondo in May after the company was part of a U.S. Department of Energy award to decarbonize heavy industry.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Her career generated intrigue from fans and the media, and in July the Sunday Times profiled her.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for profile
Dictionary Entries Near profile
Cite this Entry
“Profile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profile. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
profile
1 of 2 noun
pro·file
ˈprō-ˌfīl
1
: a head or face seen or drawn from the side
2
: something seen in outline
3
: a vertical section of soil that shows the various layers
4
: a set of data often in the form of a graph that shows the important characteristics of something
read her psychological profile
5
: level of activity that attracts attention
tried to keep a low profile
profile
2 of 2 verb
profiled; profiling
1
: to represent in profile
2
: to produce a profile of
Medical Definition
profile
1 of 2 noun
pro·file
ˈprō-ˌfīl
1
: a set of data exhibiting the significant features of something and often obtained by multiple tests
the profile of CK isoenzymes in skeletal muscle—A. J. Siegel & D. M. Dawson
A. J. Siegel & D. M. Dawson2
: a graphic representation of the extent to which an individual or group exhibits traits as determined by tests or ratings
this group did not give a homogeneous personality profile—Diseases of the Nervous System
Diseases of the Nervous Systemprofile
2 of 2 transitive verb
profiled; profiling
: to represent in profile or by a profile : produce a profile of (as by writing or graphing)
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