imitation

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act or process of copying or mimicking the behavior, appearance, or style of someone or something else.; A copy or reproduction of something, often intended to deceive or pass as the original.; Something made to resemble or simulate another thing, especially a cheaper substitute for a more expensive material or product.; In music, the repetition of a melodic phrase or motif by another voice or instrument, often at a different pitch.; A literary or artistic work that deliberately copies the style of another author or artist, often as a form of homage or parody.; In biology, the resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its environment, typically as a means of protection (mimicry).; The act of following or conforming to a model, example, or pattern.
  2. adjective
    Made to look like or simulate something else; not genuine or authentic.
  3. noun
    In psychology, the reproduction of observed behavior, considered a fundamental mechanism of social learning.; In rhetoric, the practice of modeling one's writing or speaking style on that of a classical or admired author (imitatio).

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: imitations

Collocations

in imitation ofclose imitationpoor imitationimitation leatherimitation goldblind imitationmere imitation

Derivatives

imitateimitatorimitativeinimitableimitativelyimitativeness

Synonyms

copyreplicamimicrysimulationcounterfeitreproductionfacsimile

Antonyms

originalgenuine

Commonly confused

simulation
EN: 'Simulation' implies a model or representation of a process or system, often for study; 'imitation' implies copying the appearance or behavior of something.
emulation
EN: 'Emulation' suggests striving to equal or surpass someone, often with admiration; 'imitation' is a more neutral or negative term for copying.
counterfeit
EN: 'Counterfeit' specifically implies fraudulent copying intended to deceive, especially of currency or goods; 'imitation' can be neutral or even complimentary.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember that 'imitation' has the sequence '-tation' (not '-tiation'); it comes from 'imitate' + '-ion', so the 'e' is dropped before adding '-ion'.

💬 Examples

  1. Children learn language largely through imitation of their parents.

  2. The handbag was a cheap imitation of a famous designer brand.

  3. The ring was set with imitation diamonds that sparkled convincingly in the light.

  4. The fugue features strict imitation between the soprano and tenor voices.

  5. The poet published an imitation of Homer's Odyssey set in modern-day New York.

  6. The viceroy butterfly's imitation of the monarch's coloration deters predators.

  7. The new policy was an imitation of a successful program implemented in Scandinavia.

  8. She wore an imitation leather jacket that looked surprisingly real.

  9. Bandura's experiments demonstrated that aggression in children could be acquired through imitation.

  10. Renaissance humanists considered imitation of Cicero the highest form of literary education.