Word
mimicry
US/ˈmɪmɪkɹi/
UK/mˈɪmɪkɹi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the act of copying the way someone or something looks, sounds, or behaves. You often see this in nature when one animal tries to look like another to stay safe.
n. the action or art of imitating someone or something, typically in order to entertain or ridicule. In biological contexts, refers to the resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its environment for protection or concealment.
Examples
“The bird's mimicry of the car alarm was perfect.”
“In the rainforest, certain harmless snakes use mimicry to look exactly like venomous species to scare away predators.”
“The comedian's performance relied on a sophisticated mimicry of political figures, capturing not just their voices but their most subtle physical tics and rhetorical habits.”
Examples
simple
“The bird's mimicry of the car alarm was perfect.”
contextual
“In the rainforest, certain harmless snakes use mimicry to look exactly like venomous species to scare away predators.”
complex
“The comedian's performance relied on a sophisticated mimicry of political figures, capturing not just their voices but their most subtle physical tics and rhetorical habits.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mimicry” in context.
Verb
01. employ mimicry
“The insect employs mimicry to hide from predators in the rainforest.”
verb + noun
02. master mimicry
“It takes years for a comedian to master mimicry of famous celebrities.”
verb + noun
03. mimicry evolves
“Scientists are studying how such complex mimicry evolves over generations.”
noun + verb
04. mimicry serves
“In the wild, mimicry serves as a vital survival mechanism for many insects.”
noun + verb
05. rely on mimicry
“Certain orchids rely on mimicry to attract specific pollinators.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
06. defensive mimicry
“Many harmless snakes use defensive mimicry to look like venomous species.”
adj + noun
07. flattering mimicry
“The designer dismissed the rival's collection as a form of flattering mimicry.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. form of mimicry
“Camouflage is a sophisticated form of mimicry found in the animal kingdom.”
noun + prep + noun
09. gift for mimicry
“She has a natural gift for mimicry and can copy any accent perfectly.”
noun + prep + noun
10. achieve a high degree of mimicry
“The software can achieve a high degree of mimicry when replicating human speech.”
11. display a talent for mimicry
“The young student began to display a talent for mimicry during drama class.”
12. imitation is the sincerest form of mimicry
“He wasn't upset by the parody, noting that imitation is the sincerest form of mimicry.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the subject being imitated.
Real-World Examples
“Mimicry in nature likewise can charm or repel us, but whatever our human judgments, this much is true: Scamming works, and the natural world abounds with P. T. Barnums, which fill every phyletic niche, sucker every sense.” “Many harmless animals mimic dangerous ones to avoid being eaten, but often this fakery is inaccurate. To help explain why evolution sometimes favours imperfect mimicry, a team 3D printed a range of imaginary insects.” “Mimicry of harmless species pretending to be dangerous ones in order to avoid being eaten is one of the best celebrated examples of the outcome of evolution by natural selection," says Professor Tom Sherratt, of Carleton University in Ottawa, who led the research.” “Animal mimicry takes many forms—including chemical and acoustic varieties—and offers unique insights into evolution” Etymology
From mimic + -ry, a standard English nominal suffix forming nouns of condition or practice.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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