imitation

[ im-i-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a result or product of imitating.
2. the act of imitating.
3. a counterfeit; copy.
4. a literary composition that imitates the manner or subject of another author or work.
5. Biology. mimicry.
6. Psychology. the performance of an act whose stimulus is the observation of the act performed by another person.
7. Sociology. the copying of patterns of activity and thought of other groups or individuals.
8. Art.
   1. (in Aristotelian aesthetics) the representation of an object or an action as it ought to be.
   2. the representation of actuality in art or literature.
9. Music. the repetition of a melodic phrase at a different pitch or key from the original or in a different voice part.

adjective

1. designed to imitate a genuine or superior article or thing:

   imitation leather.

2. Jewelry. noting an artificial gem no part of which is of the true gemstone. Compare assembled, synthetic ( def 5 ).

imitation

/ ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, practice, or art of imitating; mimicry
2. an instance or product of imitating, such as a copy of the manner of a person; impression
3. 1. a copy or reproduction of a genuine article; counterfeit
   2. ( as modifier )

      imitation jewellery

4. (in contrapuntal or polyphonic music) the repetition of a phrase or figure in one part after its appearance in another, as in a fugue
5. a literary composition that adapts the style of an older work to the writer's own purposes

Derived Forms

• ˌimiˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• imi·tation·al adjective
• nonim·i·tation·al adjective
• over·imi·tation noun
• preim·i·tation noun
• self-imi·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitation¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin imitātiōn- (stem of imitātiō ). See imitate, -ion

Example Sentences

Lawrence pleaded guilty to two offences - one of assault and another of possessing an imitation gun with intent to cause fear and violence.

From BBC

"Then he got this imitation pistol out. I thought, 'oh my god'. I couldn't speak. But he didn't deserve an IPP for that."

From BBC

Another approach involves replacing standard meat with such options as insects or plant-based imitation meats.

From Salon

He had a string of criminal convictions including one for possession of an imitation firearm, and another for possessing a knife.

From BBC

Ports O’ Call, a kitschy imitation of a New England fishing village, opened in 1962.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clone
• impersonation
• impression
• mimicry
• parody
• reflection
• replica
• reproduction