A personage is an important or distinguished person, someone who stands out because of their position, accomplishments, or influence. When a famous scientist visits your school, teachers might introduce her as “an important personage in the field of astronomy.” When a mayor or senator arrives at an event, people might call them a distinguished personage.

The word carries a sense of dignity and respect. You wouldn't call your friend a personage just because they won a spelling bee, but you might use it to describe the school principal welcoming a visiting author whose books have sold millions of copies. Historical personages like Benjamin Franklin or Harriet Tubman shaped the course of history through their actions and ideas.

Sometimes the word appears in older books or formal contexts. In a novel set in Victorian England, characters might speak nervously about meeting “a personage of great importance” at a royal ball. The word suggests someone whose presence commands attention and respect.

Notice that personage feels more formal than simply saying “important person.” It's the kind of word you'd see in a news article about a visiting dignitary or in a history book describing influential figures from the past. When someone is called a personage, it means they've achieved something significant enough that their reputation precedes them.