Standard Lemma guide

deuteragonist

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌduː.təˈɹæɡ.ə.nɪst/
  • /ˌdju.təˈɹæɡ.ə.nɪst/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A secondary character; specifically, the second most important character (after the protagonist).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, narratology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An actor playing a role (potentially all roles) requiring a second actor to be present on the stage, opposite the protagonist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Qualifier: ancient Greek drama

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δευτεραγωνιστής (deuteragōnistḗs, literally “second actor”), originally in Greek drama, from ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, deuter- (“second”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: deyteraqonist — second most important character
  • Azerbaijani: devteraqonist — second most important character
  • Catalan: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Czech: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Finnish: sivuhenkilö — second most important character
  • French: deutéragoniste — second most important character
  • German: Deuteragonist — second most important character
  • German: Deuteragonistin — second most important character
  • Italian: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Korean: 들러리 (deulleori) — second most important character
  • Polish: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Portuguese: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Russian: девтерагонист (devteragonist) — second most important character
  • Serbo-Croatian: деутераго̀нист — second most important character
  • Serbo-Croatian: deuteragònist — second most important character
  • Slovak: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Spanish: deuteragonista — second most important character
  • Turkish: ikincil oyuncu — second most important character
  • Ukrainian: девтерагоніст (devterahonist) — second most important character
  • Azerbaijani: deyteraqonist — second actor
  • Azerbaijani: devteraqonist — second actor
  • Catalan: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Czech: deuteragonista — second actor
  • French: deutéragoniste — second actor
  • German: Deuteragonist — second actor
  • German: Deuteragonistin — second actor
  • Italian: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Korean: 들러리 (deulleori) — second actor
  • Polish: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Portuguese: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Russian: девтерагонист (devteragonist) — second actor
  • Serbo-Croatian: деутераго̀нист — second actor
  • Serbo-Croatian: deuteragònist — second actor
  • Slovak: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Spanish: deuteragonista — second actor
  • Turkish: ikincil oyuncu — second actor
  • Ukrainian: девтерагоніст (devterahonist) — second actor