imitation
1 of 2noun
im·i·ta·tion ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən 
1
: an act or instance of imitating
2
: something produced as a copy : counterfeit
3
: a literary work designed to reproduce the style of another author
4
: the repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voice
5
: the quality of an object in possessing some of the nature or attributes of a transcendent idea
6
: the assumption of behavior observed in other individuals
imitation
2 of 2adjective
: resembling something else that is usually genuine and of better quality : not real
imitation leather
Synonyms
Noun
- carbon
- carbon copy
- clone
- copy
- dummy
- dupe
- duplicate
- duplication
- facsimile
- mock
- reduplication
- replica
- replication
- reproduction
Adjective
- artificial
- bogus
- dummy
- ersatz
- factitious
- fake
- false
- faux
- imitative
- man-made
- mimic
- mock
- pretend
- sham
- simulated
- substitute
- synthetic
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Children learn by imitation of adults. The restaurant was designed in imitation of a Japanese temple. He did a hilarious imitation of his father. The real diamonds are in a museum. These are just imitations. Adjective the stage production uses only imitation diamonds, as real gems would be prohibitively expensive
Recent Examples on the Web
Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 According to Cowell, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 In tech circles, imitation is not the best form of flattery. John Brandon, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 While imitation is a form of flattery, that, too, represents a part of his legacy. Brian Lowry, CNN, 20 July 2022 But imitation is both the sincerest form of flattery and the sign of a healthy market. Walter Frick, Quartz, 8 June 2022 This being an industry where imitation is the sincerest form of television, Bezos’ underlings took his mandate as literally as possible. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2022 Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2022 The top tactics for steelhead trout are to work a very basic tiny black marabou jig tipped with maggots or waxworms, or a single salmon egg imitation, in the river current under a stick float. D'arcy Egan, cleveland, 4 Mar. 2021 See More
Noun
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, no company has earned excessive adulation over the past year quite like TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 According to Cowell, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 In tech circles, imitation is not the best form of flattery. John Brandon, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 While imitation is a form of flattery, that, too, represents a part of his legacy. Brian Lowry, CNN, 20 July 2022 But imitation is both the sincerest form of flattery and the sign of a healthy market. Walter Frick, Quartz, 8 June 2022 This being an industry where imitation is the sincerest form of television, Bezos’ underlings took his mandate as literally as possible. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2022 Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2022 The top tactics for steelhead trout are to work a very basic tiny black marabou jig tipped with maggots or waxworms, or a single salmon egg imitation, in the river current under a stick float. D'arcy Egan, cleveland, 4 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ymytacyoun "emulation," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French imitacion, borrowed from Latin imitātiōn-, imitātiō "action of copying, copy," from imitārī "to follow as a pattern, imitate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action
Adjective
from attributive use of imitation entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1818, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing imitation
Kids Definition
imitation 1 of 2
noun
im·i·ta·tion ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən
1
: the act of copying someone or something
She does great imitations of celebrities.
2
: copy entry 1 sense 1 These diamonds are just imitations.
imitation
2 of 2adjective
: made to look like something else and especially something valuable
imitation pearls
imitation 1 of 2
noun
as in reproduction
something that is made to look exactly like something else challenged me to tell the real roses from the silk imitations Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- reproduction
- copy
- replica
- version
- duplicate
- clone
- mock
- facsimile
- replication
- duplication
- dupe
- reduplication
- carbon copy
- carbon
- dummy
- counterfeit
- fake
- knockoff
- simulation
- miniature
- reconstruction
- forgery
- phony
- rip-off
- likeness
- approximation
- phoney
- re-creation
- rubber stamp
- impression
- sham
- print
- semblance
- image
- reincarnation
- mock-up
- spare
- imprint
- shadow
- extra
- reserve
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- original
- prototype
- archetype
imitation
2 of 2adjective
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials the stage production uses only imitation diamonds, as real gems would be prohibitively expensive Synonyms & Similar Words
- faux
- synthetic
- simulated
- fake
- artificial
- imitative
- dummy
- mock
- false
- substitute
- mimic
- ersatz
- manufactured
- counterfeit
- pretend
- factitious
- bogus
- designer
- sham
- process
- man-made
- deceptive
- fabricated
- cultured
- manipulated
- pseudo
- forged
- engineered
- adulterated
- unauthentic
- fraudulent
- pinchbeck
- concocted
- doctored
- misleading
- feigned
- phony
- juggled
- phoney
- spurious
- affected
- fudged
- tampered (with)
- brummagem
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- real
- genuine
- natural
- authentic
- true
- legitimate
- quality
- bona fide
- pure
- valuable
- premium
- unadulterated