impersonation

/ɪmpərsəˈneɪʃɪn/

/ɪmpəsəˈneɪʃən/

Other forms: impersonations

Impersonation is when someone pretends to be another person. If you pretend to be your twin brother all day at school, that's impersonation.

There are a few different forms of impersonation — some of them are harmless, like comedians who use impersonation to mimic the voices and mannerisms of famous people, or actors who play historical figures in movies. Other kinds of impersonation are harmful, including when a thief takes someone's identity (including Social Security number and bank information) in order to steal their money. Impersonation has the Latin roots in-, "into," and persona, "person."

Definitions of impersonation

1. noun

   pretending to be another person
   synonyms: imposture

   type of:

   deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation

   the act of deceiving
2. noun

   imitating the mannerisms of another person
   synonyms: personation

   types:

   apery, mimicry

   the act of mimicking; imitative behavior

   mockery, parody, takeoff

   humorous or satirical mimicry

   type of:

   acting, performing, playacting, playing

   the performance of a part or role in a drama
3. noun

   a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
   synonyms: caricature, imitation

   types:

   mock-heroic

   a satirical imitation of heroic verse

   burlesque, charade, lampoon, mockery, parody, pasquinade, put-on, sendup, spoof, takeoff, travesty

   a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way

   type of:

   humor, humour, wit, witticism, wittiness

   a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter