impostor

or im·post·er

[ im-pos-ter ]

noun

1. a person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or name.

impostor

/ ɪmˈpɒstə /

noun

1. a person who deceives others, esp by assuming a false identity; charlatan

Word History and Origins

Origin of impostor¹

1580–90; < Late Latin, equivalent to Latin impos ( i )-, variant stem of impōnere to deceive, place on ( impone ) + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of impostor¹

C16: from Late Latin: deceiver; see impose

Example Sentences

“We go through a phenomenon that I call the ‘Latino double impostor syndrome,’” Hayes-Bautista said.

From Los Angeles Times

But as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, she was just one of a handful of women in the electrical engineering department and sometimes felt like an impostor.

From Los Angeles Times

“I suffer from really bad impostor syndrome, so I’m always fine with being ignored for what I feel like I deserve deep down anyway,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

“And you guys are gonna have impostor syndrome, too. I have never, in any position I’ve had, felt like I was either ready walking into it, or I was as prepared as I should be.”

From Los Angeles Times

"At the beginning of all this I felt a bit like an impostor - not only had I not done impressions before, I didn’t know much about politics," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• con artist
• hypocrite