impostor
Americannoun
-
impostors
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of impostor
1580–90; < Late Latin, equivalent to Latin impos ( i )-, variant stem of impōnere to deceive, place on ( see impone) + -tor -tor
Vocabulary lists containing impostor
"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 3
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"The Millionaire Miser"
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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:
But after 54 hours of work and several timely pep talks, Claude overcame its skepticism—and its case of impostor syndrome— and surprised itself with the result.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
He had paid the impostor at least $700 since February, he told her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
In Orange County, Rivera reported her impostor to the state bar, which is investigating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
He said the "lone impostor" explanation did not add up.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
His face was as mild and hopeless as ever; mooning above the snappy, rigid blouse, it gave him the air of an impostor.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
The state bar is able to pursue disciplinary action only against California-licensed attorneys, but has no authority against impostors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
“Additionally, many AI impostors will be revealed this year as well; the 2026 equivalents to Pets.com will not make it through to 2027.”
From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026
Right now, dating apps are falling out of favor with those treasured demographics, not least thanks to the prevalence of catfishing impostors and nonstop deluges of fake dating options.
From Slate ● May 17, 2024
The search for the ghost of his particle has been similarly confounded by impostors.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 20, 2023
“It washes away all enchantment, all magical concealment! They know there are impostors in Gringotts, they have set off defenses against us!”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
