imitative

[ im-i-tey-tiv ]

/ ˈɪm ɪˌteɪ tɪv /

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See synonyms for imitative on Thesaurus.com

adjective

imitating; copying; given to imitation.

of, relating to, or characterized by imitation.

Biology. mimetic.

made in imitation of something; counterfeit.

onomatopoeic.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of imitative

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

OTHER WORDS FROM imitative

im·i·ta·tive·ly, adverbim·i·ta·tive·ness, nounnon·im·i·ta·tive, adjectivenon·im·i·ta·tive·ly, adverb

non·im·i·ta·tive·ness, nouno·ver·im·i·ta·tive, adjectiveo·ver·im·i·ta·tive·ly, adverbo·ver·im·i·ta·tive·ness, nounpre·im·i·ta·tive, adjectiveun·im·i·ta·tive, adjective

Words nearby imitative

imitable, imitate, imitation, imitation doublet, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, imitative, imitative magic, Imittós, I'mma, immaculate, Immaculate Conception

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imitative in a sentence

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.
Artificial intelligence challenges what it means to be creative|Richard Moss|February 17, 2022|Science News
There’s a fine line between paying homage to a poet you admire and being overly imitative of that poet’s work.
‘Love and Other Poems’ will satisfy your need for romance|Kathi Wolfe|May 27, 2021|Washington Blade
I was afraid to tell my story directly, wanted to couch it in a fanciful (and imitative) yarn of sex and intrigue.
‘Miracle Boy Grows Up’: Ben Mattlin Speaks to Jay McInerney|Jay McInerney|December 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Yet we know that children are, to greater and lesser degrees, highly imitative of what they see.
Does Hollywood Inspire Violence?|Noah Kristula-Green|July 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The imitative impulse prompting to the production of the semblance of something appears very early in child-life.
Children's Ways|James Sully
In this imitative play we see from the first the artistic tendency to set forth what is characteristic in the things represented.
Children's Ways|James Sully
It is an imitative creature, and takes refuge up among the trees.
The Geography of Strabo, Volume III (of 3)|Strabo
Reading is at once an imitative and an appreciative art on the part of the pupil.
Thoughts on Educational Topics and Institutions|George S. Boutwell
Skeat thinks the word gog is “of imitative origin,” but it is more likely that goggle was originally Gog oeuil or Gog Eye.
Archaic England|Harold Bayley

British Dictionary definitions for imitative

imitative

/ (ˈɪmɪtətɪv) /

adjective

imitating or tending to imitate or copy

characterized by imitation

copying or reproducing the features of an original, esp in an inferior mannerimitative painting

another word for onomatopoeic

Derived forms of imitative

imitatively, adverbimitativeness, 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

imitative

Origin of imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM imitative

Words nearby imitative

Words related to imitative

How to use imitative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imitative

Derived forms of imitative