impostor

American  

[im-pos-ter] / ɪmˈpɒs tər /

Or imposter

noun

1. a person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or name.

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impostor British  

/ ɪmˈpɒstə /

noun

1. a person who deceives others, esp by assuming a false identity; charlatan

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Etymology

Origin of impostor

1580–90; < Late Latin, equivalent to Latin impos ( i )-, variant stem of impōnere to deceive, place on ( impone ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

“That little flicker—it can plant itself in you and blossom into self-doubt, impostor syndrome,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Then he secretly purchases a passel of tortoises; constructs a long-handled grabber; leans down from his balcony; extracts Alfie; and, each week, substitutes a slightly heavier impostor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Even though impostor feelings are common among high achievers, many people keep them to themselves.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

Cirkut: Do we all have some sort of impostor syndrome?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

I was not even my parents’ son in 1928 but a devilishly smooth impostor, awaiting their slightest blunder as an excuse to move in—preferably without violence, but not necessarily—to assert my true identity.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• con artist
• hypocrite