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

"Children are incredible imitators. Mimicry paves the way to their further development. Imitation is the start of the cultural process toward becoming human," says Markus Paulus.

From Science Daily • Sep. 27, 2023

Mimicry websites use the logo, name and photo of real venues — cybersquatting — to sell fake or secondary market tickets.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 20, 2023

Mimicry and camouflage are aposematic defense mechanisms that give these animals a survival advantage over others that do not have these mechanisms.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Mimicry is his signature, using his expressive face and, in this show, his squeaky voice, to embody a character.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2017

Mimicry, they argue, is also one of the means by which we infect each other with our emotions.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• pastiche