imitative

[ im-i-tey-tiv ]
See synonyms for imitative on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. imitating; copying; given to imitation.

  2. of, relating to, or characterized by imitation.

  1. Biology. mimetic.

  2. made in imitation of something; counterfeit.

Origin of imitative

1
From the Late Latin word imitātīvus, dating back to 1575–85. See imitate, -ive

Other words from imitative

  • 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

Words Nearby imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use imitative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imitative

imitative

/ (ˈɪmɪtətɪv) /


adjective
  1. imitating or tending to imitate or copy

  2. characterized by imitation

  1. copying or reproducing the features of an original, esp in an inferior manner: imitative painting

  2. another word for onomatopoeic

Derived forms of imitative

  • imitatively, adverb
  • imitativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012