doppelgänger

or Doppelgänger

[ dop-uhl-gang-er; German daw-puhl-geng-er ]

noun

1. a ghostly double or counterpart of a living person.

doppelgänger

/ ˈdɒpəlˌɡɛŋə; ˈdɔpəlˌɡɛŋər /

noun

1. legend a ghostly duplicate of a living person

Word History and Origins

Origin of doppelgänger¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from German: literally, “double-walker,” from doppel double ( def ) + Gänger “walker” (from Gang “motion, way” + -er -er ¹( def ); gang ¹( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of doppelgänger¹

from German Doppelgänger, literally: double-goer

Example Sentences

The Russians also ran an effective “doppelganger” network of websites that mimicked legitimate American news outlets like the Washington Post but published fake news to undermine confidence in elections and increase polarization.

From Los Angeles Times

After police intervention, the crowd moved to a nearby playground, where attendees chose which doppelganger most resembled the real Chalamet, who did not follow the event to its second location.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s bored with a doppelganger that traps him in an apparently endless series of culture war sniping.

From Salon

The other thing is, the doppelgangers, which we thought would be taking over more of a season, but then we decided, “Well, it’s a way to ease our leads back into their real lives.”

From Los Angeles Times

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has come face to face with his waxwork doppelganger as it was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London.

From BBC