mimicry

American  

[mim-ik-ree] / ˈmɪm ɪk ri /

noun

plural

mimicries

1. the act, practice, or art of mimicking.

2. Biology. the close external resemblance of an organism, the mimic, to some different organism, the model, such that the mimic benefits from the mistaken identity, as seeming to be unpalatable or harmful.

3. an instance, performance, or result of mimicking.

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mimicry British  

/ ˈmɪmɪkrɪ /

noun

1. the act or art of copying or imitating closely; mimicking

2. the resemblance shown by one animal species, esp an insect, to another, which protects it from predators

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mimicry Scientific  

/ mĭm′ĭ-krē /

1. The resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its surroundings for concealment or protection from predators.

2. See also aggressive mimicry Batesian mimicry Müllerian mimicry

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Etymology

Origin of mimicry

First recorded in 1680–90; mimic + -ry

Explanation

Mimicry is the art of imitation, which is practiced the world over, from annoying siblings who repeat every word you say, to professional comedians who impersonate famous people onstage. Mimicry comes from a Greek word for mime: a performer who silently imitates gestures and expressions. Usually mimicry refers to imitation that is meant to make fun of the thing imitated, often in an unkind way. Think of the class clown’s mimicry of your French teacher’s overly precise accent. It entertained the class, but got him sent to the principal’s office.

Example Sentences

Later, explaining to his mom why he doesn’t have any friends his own age, Valdi purses his lips in a mimicry of the older men who would engulf him — a touchingly sad little detail.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

"A novel aspect of the paper was our use of powerful mass spectrometry sequencing to identify molecular mimicry between the adenovirus vector protein and the PF4 culprit target," she says.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

Horror is filled with trend-hopping and mimicry — the genre itself holds a mirror to our cultural anxieties, replicating them with chilling, hyperbolic intensity.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

His huge talent for comic sketches, mimicry and song was awarded with similarly huge budgets by grateful commissioners.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

Jam’s mouth fell open at the mimicry, and she covered it with a hand.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Related Words

• pastiche