imposture
[im-pos-cher]
- the action or practice of imposing fraudulently upon others.
- deception using an assumed character, identity, or name, as by an impostor.
- an instance or piece of fraudulent imposition.
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Origin of imposture
Synonyms for imposture
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for imposture
stratagem, cheat, sleight, artifice, hoax, pretension, imitation, fake, wile, sell, impersonation, deception, imposition, ploy, forgery, quackery, counterfeit, illusion, sham, maneuverExamples from the Web for imposture
Contemporary Examples of imposture
Even after the imposture was revealed, however, Taliban leaders remained positive that that their trick could still work.
Historical Examples of imposture
If the world chose to esteem him, he did not buy its opinion by imposture.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Satisfied, now, that there was imposture, he resolved to ferret it out.
I need only say that the secret of my imposture defied detection.
The Prisoner of ZendaAnthony Hope
Where he was now he seemed to be not so much a fallen tyrant as a silly sham and an imposture.
The ScapegoatHall Caine
It—it—seems, monsieur, that—ah—that I have been the victim of some imposture.
St. Martin's SummerRafael Sabatini
imposture
- the act or an instance of deceiving others, esp by assuming a false identity
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Word Origin for imposture
C16: from French, from Late Latin impostūra, from Latin impōnere; see impose
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for imposture
"act of willfully deceiving others," 1530s, from Middle French imposture, from Late Latin impostura, from impostus (see impost).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper