Likeness

Likeness is a noun with several related meanings centered on similarity or representation. Primarily, it denotes the state or quality of being alike or resembling another thing. It can also refer to a representation that resembles a person or thing, such as a portrait, photograph, statue, or other likeness of someone.

Etymology traces likeness to Old English gelīcnes, from similarly meaning like or similar. In everyday usage, likeness emphasizes the degree of similarity between objects, people, or ideas. It can describe physical resemblance, stylistic similarity, or conceptual parity.

In art and portraiture, achieving a faithful likeness means capturing recognizable features so that a subject is identifiable. Artists may balance exact likeness with expressive interpretation, but the goal is often to preserve the essential look of the subject. Photography, film, and sculpture likewise judge success by how well the depiction reflects the subject’s appearance.

In legal and commercial contexts, the term is associated with rights to a person’s image or likeness. Likeness rights, sometimes called the right of publicity or image rights, govern how a person’s portrait or identifiably character can be used commercially. Permission from the individual or their representatives is typically required, with exemptions varying by jurisdiction.

Other uses of likeness include the archaic or literary phrase in likeness of meaning "in the form of" or "in the manner of," and the everyday expression “in likeness of” is used to indicate resemblance or comparison.