imitation

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪmɪˈteɪʃn̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #14399

Meanings

1

noun
A copy of something, often one that is not as good as the original.

The watch was a cheap imitation of an expensive brand.
2

adj
Made to look like something real but actually artificial.

The sofa was covered in imitation leather.
3

noun
The act of copying someone's actions, voice, or behaviour.

He did a funny imitation of his teacher walking down the hall.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · made to look like something... false

3 noun · the act of copying... impersonation

More copying replication

Opposites

creationnon-imitation

Word family

Forms imitations

Derived forms autoimitationcounterimitationimitationalimitationismimitationistnon-imitationoverimitationself-imitation

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

imitation leather
a manufactured material designed to resemble animal leather

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Simplified etymology

Imitation, recorded from late Middle English, ultimately belongs to the word family of Latin imago, meaning “imitation, likeness, or idea.” Image and imagine developed from the same Latin family.

Etymology

From Middle English imitacioun, from Middle French imitacion, from Old French imitacion, from Latin imitatio.

imitacioun Middle English imitacion Middle French imitatio Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# imitation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪmɪˈteɪʃn̩/
**Frequency rank:** 14399

## Meanings
1. A copy of something, often one that is not as good as the original.
2. Made to look like something real but actually artificial.
3. The act of copying someone's actions, voice, or behaviour.

## Examples
- The watch was a cheap imitation of an expensive brand.
- The sofa was covered in imitation leather.
- He did a funny imitation of his teacher walking down the hall.

## Synonyms
- copying
- replication

## Antonyms
- creation
- non-imitation

## Derived Forms
- autoimitation
- counterimitation
- imitational
- imitationism
- imitationist
- non-imitation
- overimitation
- self-imitation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: imitacioun
- Root: imitacion
- Root: imitatio

## Etymology
From Middle English imitacioun, from Middle French imitacion, from Old French imitacion, from Latin imitatio.

## AI Etymology
Imitation comes from Middle English imitacioun, from Middle French imitacion, from Old French imitacion, from Latin imitatio. In current use, the main senses are “A copy of something, often one that is not as good as the original” and “Made to look like something real but actually artificial”.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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