impersonation

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "impersonation" is both correct and usable in written English.
The word typically refers to someone pretending to be someone else, usually as a form of entertainment. For example, "The actor was applauded for his impeccable impersonation of a famous political leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If they were into impersonation, they could have impersonated the entire government.

The Guardian

Suitably chastened, Williams posed, meekly as a cat, and Jane was very amused to hear that he did an impeccable impersonation of her once she had left.

The Guardian - Arts

What Joey does is not female impersonation, it's as if he channels Billie.

The Guardian - Music

So to Kevin you're saying, 'Give me a Walter Matthau impersonation.'" Annette Bening, on the other hand, "is on her Walkman half-an-hour before the cameras roll, cutting off the set, focused down, listening to music that the character would listen to".

The Guardian - Film

He bagged an Oscar nomination for his turn as an imperilled cabbie in the Tom Cruise thriller Collateral and went on to win the best actor prize for his full-throttle impersonation of Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic by director Taylor Hackford.

The Guardian - Film

Also doing a reasonable directorial impersonation is A Thousand Times Good Night (Arrow Films, 15): a sensitive, somewhat simplistic melodrama about a combat-zone photojournalist (an excellent Juliette Binoche) facing the war at home, it's so worthily Susanne Bier-y that I had to rewind to check the Dane's name wasn't in the credits.

The Guardian - Film

Even the Italians are not bad at attempting a reasonable Bremnerish impersonation of our Nige's vowels.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet incidents of voter impersonation are exceedingly rare.

The Economist

If it doesn't, an eavesdropper might be listening in.Mr Zimmermann notes that by "dragging a couple of human brains into the protocol", Silent Circle makes it impossible for an interloper to predict when the people in a conversation will perform the verification step or how they will perform it, and so pre-arrange a convincing impersonation.

The Economist

TED CRUZ, the fiercely conservative Texan already flirting with a White House run less than a year after being elected to the Senate, does a surprisingly good impersonation of a five-year-old girl bored by politics.

The Economist

For some reason, the impersonation worked.He moved quickly to mockery of his erudition, informing the audience that in the original Greek "politics" comes from "poli" for many, and ticks meaning "blood-sucking parasites".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or security contexts, be precise: distinguish between harmless impersonation (e.g., for entertainment) and malicious impersonation (e.g., identity theft).

Common error

While imitation can be a form of flattery, don't assume that an "impersonation" is always well-received. It can be offensive if it mocks or misrepresents the person being impersonated.

Linguistic Context

The word "impersonation" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the act of pretending to be another person. As Ludwig confirms, it's a valid and common English word. Examples in Ludwig show its use in describing acts of copying someone for entertainment, fraud, or artistic expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impersonation" is a versatile noun that describes the act of pretending to be someone else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts, ranging from harmless entertainment to serious legal matters. It's most frequently found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific sources. When using "impersonation", be mindful of the context to avoid confusion with similar terms like "impression" or unintentional offense. Remember to use this word when the situation is about pretending to be someone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personation

A more formal synonym for impersonation.

pretending to be

A straightforward and general way to describe the act of impersonation.

mimicking

Emphasizes the act of copying someone's behavior or speech.

assuming the identity of

Emphasizes the act of taking on another person's identity, often for fraudulent purposes.

posing as

Highlights the deceptive intent behind assuming a false identity.

masquerading as

Implies a more elaborate and deceptive form of pretending.

acting as

Focuses on the performative aspect of taking on a role or identity.

doing an impression of

Specifically refers to imitating someone for entertainment.

simulation

Highlights the act of creating a model or facade of something or someone.

replication

Focuses on creating a copy or reproduction, often in a technical context.

FAQs

How is "impersonation" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "impersonation" often refers to assuming someone else's identity for fraudulent activities such as identity theft, which is a serious crime.

What are some synonyms for "impersonation"?

Synonyms for "impersonation" include "personation", "mimicry", "imitation", and "masquerade". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "impersonation" differ from "impression"?

"Impersonation" typically refers to pretending to be someone else, often with the intent to deceive or entertain. An "impression", while similar, is more about capturing the essence or mannerisms of someone without necessarily trying to completely assume their identity.

What are the potential consequences of online "impersonation"?

Online "impersonation" can lead to legal penalties, especially if it involves fraud, defamation, or harassment. It can also damage the reputation of both the impersonator and the person being impersonated.