Word
impersonation
Phoneticsim·per·son·ation
US/ˌɪmpɝsəˈneɪʃən/
UK/ɪmpˌɜːsənˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. the act of pretending to be someone else, usually to trick people or get something you want. It is often used when someone pretends to be a famous person or a police officer.
n. the act of pretending to be another person, typically for fraudulent or deceptive purposes. Often involves the use of physical appearance, voice, or professional credentials to deceive others.
Examples
“The actor's impersonation of the president was very realistic.”
“The police arrested the man for impersonation after he tried to enter the bank as a security guard.”
“The legal case centered on the defendant's sophisticated impersonation of a high-ranking official, which allowed him to bypass several layers of internal security before the breach was discovered.”
Examples
simple
“The actor's impersonation of the president was very realistic.”
contextual
“The police arrested the man for impersonation after he tried to enter the bank as a security guard.”
complex
“The legal case centered on the defendant's sophisticated impersonation of a high-ranking official, which allowed him to bypass several layers of internal security before the breach was discovered.”
Real-World Examples
“The more connections a scammer can identify, the more impersonation attempts they can make, and the higher their returns on the costs of targeting and sending emails.” “Rachel Dratch did an impersonation of her on Jimmy Fallon.” Etymology
From im- + person + -ation or impersonate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/impersonation