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Impersonated: meaning, definitions and examples

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impersonated

 

[ ɪmˈpɜːrsəneɪtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

acting as someone

To impersonate means to act or imitate another person, often with the intent to deceive or entertain. This can involve copying someone's behavior, voice, and mannerisms, and it is commonly seen in performances, comedy, and illegal activities such as identity theft.

Synonyms

imitate, mimic, pose as, simulate

Examples of usage

  • He impersonated a police officer to gain access.
  • The comedian impersonated several celebrities during the show.
  • She was accused of impersonating a government official.
  • They were caught impersonating customer service representatives.

Translations

Translations of the word "impersonated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fingido

🇮🇳 नकल किया हुआ

🇩🇪 nachgeahmt

🇮🇩 ditiru

🇺🇦 вдаваний

🇵🇱 udawany

🇯🇵 偽装された

🇫🇷 imité

🇪🇸 impostado

🇹🇷 taklit edilmiş

🇰🇷 흉내낸

🇸🇦 مُزَوَّر

🇨🇿 napodobený

🇸🇰 napodobovaný

🇨🇳 模仿的

🇸🇮 posneman

🇮🇸 afritaður

🇰🇿 көшірілген

🇬🇪 მიმტევებელი

🇦🇿 təqlid edilmiş

🇲🇽 impostado

Etymology

The word 'impersonate' comes from the late Middle English, originating from the Latin word 'impersonare,' which means 'to make into a person.' The prefix 'im-' denotes 'not' or 'into,' while 'persona' refers to the character or mask used by an actor in a play. This historical connection illustrates the act of taking on another's identity or role, reflecting the complex relationship between identity and performance in society. Over time, this term has evolved in usage, becoming associated with both entertainment, such as acting and parody, and nefarious activities like fraud and deception, especially in the digital age where impersonation can easily occur online. The nuances of impersonation continue to be relevant in legal contexts, as laws have had to adapt to address identity theft and misuse of personal information.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,373 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.