imitation

1 of 2

noun

im·​i·​ta·​tion ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: an act or instance of imitating

Children learn by imitation of adults.

He did a hilarious imitation of his father.

2

: something produced as a copy : counterfeit

a cheap/poor imitation

an imitation of mid-century architecture

3

: a literary work designed to reproduce the style of another author

4

: the repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voice

5

philosophy : the quality of an object in possessing some of the nature or attributes of a transcendent idea

6

psychology : the conscious or unconscious assumption of behavior observed in other individuals

imitation

2 of 2

adjective

: resembling something else that is usually genuine and of better quality : not real

imitation leather

Synonyms of imitation

Noun

• reproduction
• copy
• replica

Adjective

• faux
• synthetic
• simulated
• fake
• artificial
• imitative
• dummy

Examples of imitation in a Sentence

Noun

Children learn by imitation of adults.

The restaurant was designed in imitation of a Japanese temple.

He did a hilarious imitation of his father.

The real diamonds are in a museum. These are just imitations.

Adjective

the stage production uses only imitation diamonds, as real gems would be prohibitively expensive

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But many 'new motorcycles' that come out of China follow the imitation route. —New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026

How is imitation almond flavoring different? —Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026

UniFlex enables efficient cross-scenario task generalization and imitation learning. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026

The rare collaboration underscores the severity of a concern raised by US AI companies that some users, especially in China, are creating imitation versions of their products that could undercut them on price and siphon away customers while posing a national security risk. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ymytacyoun "emulation," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French imitacion, borrowed from Latin imitātiōn-, imitātiō "action of copying, copy," from imitārī "to follow as a pattern, imitate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

Adjective

from attributive use of imitation entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing imitation

• pale imitation

Rhymes for imitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

imitation

1 of 2 noun

im·​i·​ta·​tion ˌim-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: an act of imitating

2

: something produced as a copy

imitation

2 of 2 adjective

: resembling something else especially of better quality

imitation pearls

imitation leather