imposture

C2+ Topic:People & Society
US /ɪmˈpɑstʃɚ/ UK /ɪmˈpɒstʃə/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    the act of deceiving by assuming a false identity or character

    The supposed nobleman's imposture was exposed by a single misspoken word.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · the act of deceiving by... deceptionfraudhoaxpretenseshammasquerade
Opposites
Word family
Related forms impostorimposeimposition

Etymology

From Middle French imposture, from Late Latin impostura ('deception'), from impostus, contracted past participle of imponere ('to impose upon, deceive'), from in- ('on') + ponere ('to put').

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