doppelgänger
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of doppelgänger
First recorded in 1850–55; from German: literally, “double-walker,” from doppel double ( def. ) + Gänger “walker” (from Gang “motion, way” + -er -er 1 ( def. ); cf. gang 1 ( def. ))
Explanation
Someone who looks spookily like you, but isn't a twin, is a doppelganger. Originally, this was a type of ghost. The word doppelganger is German and literally means double walker — as in a ghost or shadow of yourself. An easy way to remember it is that doppelganger sounds like double, as in "That movie star is my double. We look so much alike." These days, most people don't refer to the ghost meaning when talking about doppelgangers: they just mean someone who looks a lot like you or could be your twin. Still, that is pretty spooky.
Vocabulary lists containing doppelganger
The Fault in Our Stars
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Pop Culture : January 5 - 11, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Shining
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A Calvin Klein spokeswoman said the doppelgänger is a coincidence and the photos were taken in November, before “Love Story” aired.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
Stressed about the impossibility of work-life balance, a Mexican American music video director hires a doppelgänger in this film, which premiered at Sundance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025
You only need to pose for a few seconds for it to generate your digital doppelgänger, aka “cameo.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025
On that cold rainy day, Zendaya doppelgänger Zainab Bansfield took home the coveted $40 prize, hair care products and bragging rights.
From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2024
Willem is the Dutch version of William, just like his American movie star doppelgänger.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
From absurdist metafictions involving doppelgängers to a documentary about a slain music star that utilizes never-before-seen home footage, these were the best Latino films of 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026
By understanding the tactics employed by these digital doppelgängers and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming another statistic.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2024
Start at the beginning here; there is an involved mythology of renegade love, corporate malfeasance and secret doppelgängers.
From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2023
The author researched doppelgängers as a fellow at the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, one of the cities on Elsa’s global itinerary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
They walked before her and met her like doppelgängers, wearing the self-same old joy of her own face, but she looked at them unswervingly.
From Pembroke A Novel by Freeman, Mary Eleanor Wilkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
