imitation

American  

[im-i-tey-shuhn] / ˌɪm ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• imitations
  plural

1. a result or product of imitating.

2. the act of imitating.

3. a counterfeit; copy.

4. a literary composition that imitates the manner or subject of another author or work.

5. Biology. mimicry.

6. Psychology. the performance of an act whose stimulus is the observation of the act performed by another person.

7. Sociology. the copying of patterns of activity and thought of other groups or individuals.

8. Art.

   1. (in Aristotelian aesthetics) the representation of an object or an action as it ought to be.

   2. the representation of actuality in art or literature.

9. Music. the repetition of a melodic phrase at a different pitch or key from the original or in a different voice part.

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adjective

1. designed to imitate a genuine or superior article or thing.

   imitation leather.

2. Jewelry. noting an artificial gem no part of which is of the true gemstone.

imitation British  

/ ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, practice, or art of imitating; mimicry

2. an instance or product of imitating, such as a copy of the manner of a person; impression

3. 1. a copy or reproduction of a genuine article; counterfeit

   2. ( as modifier )

      imitation jewellery

4. (in contrapuntal or polyphonic music) the repetition of a phrase or figure in one part after its appearance in another, as in a fugue

5. a literary composition that adapts the style of an older work to the writer's own purposes

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overimitation
  noun
• preimitation
  noun
• self-imitation
  noun
• imitational
  adjective
• nonimitational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• imitations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of imitation

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin imitātiōn- (stem of imitātiō ). See imitate, -ion

Explanation

Imitation means copying the words, facial expressions, or actions of another person. Sometimes imitation is flattering, but often it's just annoying — like when your little brother does it to drive you crazy. Use the adjective imitation to describe an object that pretends to be something else. Imitation paintings can be so real looking that it's hard to tell the fake from the genuine article. Some imitations have hung unnoticed on museum walls for years, only being exposed through the use of modern technology. A common proverb is "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," although museum directors and people with obnoxious little brothers would probably disagree.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

imitation imitations

In their own madcap way, Dino and Jer epitomized Cicero’s notion that comedy is the imitation of life, the mirror of custom and the image of truth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

That doesn’t save “Cape Fear” from being a 10-hour slog set to an imitation of Bernard Herrmann’s anxiety-inducing score, but it does lend a little intrigue to Antosca and Bardem’s interpretation of Max.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

Robert says imitation learning can cut the time taken to train the robot from months to days.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

For a generation sometimes derided for its sense of privilege, there’s a refreshing simplicity and wholesomeness to these recipes built for social media’s culture of imitation and iteration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

“I’m starved for a taste of good syrup after that imitation stuff they served at that hospital. Sort of watered-down mixture they had. Had it on pancakes last Sunday.”

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen

To put it plainly: Julian’s imitations lacked the vivacity that made his art unique, resulting in an uncanny dissonance between idea and result.

From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2026

They cannot distinguish good data from bad and their imitations of human thoughts are imperfect.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 5, 2026

This "will help traditional EU farming products sell more in India, by removing unfair competition in the form of imitations", the EU executive said.

From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026

Geake said experts originally believed imitations like this were made by a trading people called the Frisians, but more evidence is coming to light to suggest they were made by the Vikings.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

Several sailors did imitations of Cockney boys begging for a treat as Marston hammed it up as an ice cream vendor.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• clone
• impersonation
• impression
• mimicry
• parody
• reflection
• replica
• reproduction