imitative

[ im-i-tey-tiv ]

adjective

1. imitating; copying; given to imitation.
2. of, relating to, or characterized by imitation.
3. Biology. mimetic.
4. made in imitation of something; counterfeit.
5. onomatopoeic.

imitative

/ ˈɪmɪtətɪv /

adjective

1. imitating or tending to imitate or copy
2. characterized by imitation
3. copying or reproducing the features of an original, esp in an inferior manner

   imitative painting

4. another word for onomatopoeic

Derived Forms

• ˈimitatively, adverb
• ˈimitativeness, noun

Other Words From

• imi·tative·ly adverb
• imi·tative·ness noun
• non·imi·tative adjective
• non·imi·tative·ly adverb
• non·imi·tative·ness noun
• over·imi·tative adjective
• over·imi·tative·ly adverb
• over·imi·tative·ness noun
• pre·imi·tative adjective
• un·imi·tative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitative¹

From the Late Latin word imitātīvus, dating back to 1575–85. See imitate, -ive

Example Sentences

In just the past few years, creative AIs have expanded into style invention — into authorship that is individualized rather than imitative and that projects meaning and intentionality, even if none exists.

From Science News

There’s a fine line between paying homage to a poet you admire and being overly imitative of that poet’s work.

From Washington Blade

I was afraid to tell my story directly, wanted to couch it in a fanciful (and imitative) yarn of sex and intrigue.

From The Daily Beast

Yet we know that children are, to greater and lesser degrees, highly imitative of what they see.

From The Daily Beast

The imitative impulse prompting to the production of the semblance of something appears very early in child-life.

From Project Gutenberg

In this imitative play we see from the first the artistic tendency to set forth what is characteristic in the things represented.

From Project Gutenberg

It is an imitative creature, and takes refuge up among the trees.

From Project Gutenberg

Reading is at once an imitative and an appreciative art on the part of the pupil.

From Project Gutenberg

Skeat thinks the word gog is “of imitative origin,” but it is more likely that goggle was originally Gog oeuil or Gog Eye.

From Project Gutenberg