impostor syndrome

American  

[im-pos-ter sin-drohm] / ɪmˈpɒs tər ˌsɪn droʊm /

Or imposter syndrome

noun

Psychology.

1. anxiety or self-doubt that results from persistently undervaluing one’s competence and active role in achieving success, while falsely attributing one's accomplishments to luck or other external forces.

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Usage

What is impostor syndrome? Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern of self-doubt in the face of evidence to the contrary—like that voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough. The phrase and concept is especially used in reference to women and members of minority groups who feel they've achieved undue or undeserving success in the workplace.

Etymology

Origin of impostor syndrome

Coined in 1978 by Pauline Rose Clance (born 1938) and Suzanne Imes (born 1944), U.S. psychologists, in a psychology journal article “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention”

Example Sentences

Full-blown impostor syndrome can be crippling, and we miss opportunities to grow if we see every criticism as an affront.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Thick skin is overrated, and impostor syndrome isn’t always a bad thing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The band address the phenomenon on their recent song Impostor, which reflects on the anxiety of building on that momentum, and the understandable onset of impostor syndrome.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

But she suffers from impostor syndrome and feels like life could pass her by.

From Salon • May 30, 2025

“My impostor syndrome is skyrocketing right now, as well as my cortisol levels,” Baker said, accepting the DGA prize.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2025