# impersonate

/ˌɪmˈpɝsəˌneɪt/ (US) · /ɪmpˈɜːsənˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/impersonate
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to pretend to be someone else, like a famous person or a character. You do this to make people think you are that person for a short time.

For teachers: to represent or portray a person or character; to mimic the appearance, voice, or mannerisms of another. Often used in the context of performance or digital security breaches.

## Examples

- He can impersonate his favorite actor very well.
- The comedian spent years practicing how to impersonate the president's voice for the show.
- In the digital realm, sophisticated malware can impersonate legitimate software to trick users into surrendering their login credentials without realizing the deception.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.