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
: resembling something else that is usually genuine and of better quality : not real
imitation leather
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
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 9 Dec. 2025
Many have tried to recreate Justin and Britney at the 2001 VMAs, and many have been but cheap imitations.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2025
Still, swapping empty calories for real artistic fuel (something the film industry desperately needs right now), Blumhouse’s fine-enough follow-up to its hit adaptation from 2023 looks and feels like a kind of imitation cheese.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
In a global world of imitations and synthetics, fast fashion needs to take a seat on the back burner, and the fashion industry needs to return to the spotlight the use of natural materials that have worked from the dawn of time.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitation
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Noun
But choosing to support platforms that profit from uncredited imitation, especially when the original designer is accessible, transparent, and community-oriented, contributes to a harmful system.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 9 Dec. 2025
Many have tried to recreate Justin and Britney at the 2001 VMAs, and many have been but cheap imitations.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2025
Still, swapping empty calories for real artistic fuel (something the film industry desperately needs right now), Blumhouse’s fine-enough follow-up to its hit adaptation from 2023 looks and feels like a kind of imitation cheese.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
In a global world of imitations and synthetics, fast fashion needs to take a seat on the back burner, and the fashion industry needs to return to the spotlight the use of natural materials that have worked from the dawn of time.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitation
Cite this Entry
“Imitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imitation. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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