impersonate

American  

[im-pur-suh-neyt, im-pur-suh-nit] / ɪmˈpɜr səˌneɪt, ɪmˈpɜr sə nɪt /

verb (used with object)

impersonated, impersonating

1. to assume the character or appearance of; pretend to be.

   He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.

2. to mimic the voice, mannerisms, etc., of (a person) in order to entertain.

3. to act or play the part of; personate.

4. Archaic. to represent in personal or bodily form; personify; typify.

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adjective

Archaic or Literary.

1. embodied in a person; invested with personality.

impersonate British  

/ ɪmˈpɜːsəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to pretend to be (another person)

2. to imitate the character, mannerisms, etc, of (another person)

3. rare to play the part or character of

4. an archaic word for personify

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Other Word Forms

• impersonation noun
• impersonator noun

Etymology

Origin of impersonate

First recorded in 1615–25; im- ¹ + person + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Rexing said he believes the culprit impersonated a carrier by presenting a fake commercial driver’s license.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Workers Fraud Protection Act, which takes effect Jan. 1, makes it “unlawful to falsely impersonate a union representative” and imposes punitive fines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lopez has maintained he was hacked or impersonated online, a defense Mathewson rejected given the evidence, including financial records tied to the accounts involved.

From Los Angeles Times

She explained instructors impersonating officials from the "internet regulator" would say they needed him to help with an investigation, and take him to the centre.

From BBC

It was heading for the charts in the UK and the US but was banned by streaming services after record industry bodies issued takedown notices, alleging the track violated copyright by impersonating another artist.

From BBC

Related Words

• act like
• imitate
• masquerade as
• mimic
• portray
• pose as