impostor

noun

im·​pos·​tor im-ˈpä-stər 

variants or imposter

: one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception

Synonyms

• pretender
• phoney
• faker
• charlatan
• fake
• actor
• mountebank
• quack
• phony
• hoaxer
• fraud
• fakir

Examples of impostor in a Sentence

He claimed he was an experienced pilot, but he turned out to be an impostor.

the man who claimed to be a prince turned out to be an impostor

Recent Examples on the Web

Then there are impostors, which are often heartbreaking. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

Attackers can easily generate convincing digital impostors that fool people and biometric systems. —Brian Greenberg, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Phony is a coming-of-age mystery about a teenager who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to discover his mom — his only parent and his best friend — appears to have been replaced by an impostor. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025

The half-hour show follows a teenage boy who wakes up after a car accident only to find that his mom — his only parent and best friend — appears to have been replaced by an impostor. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin impostor, from Latin imponere

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing impostor

• impostor syndrome

Rhymes for impostor

• exhauster
• imposter
• coster
• roster
• zoster

Kids Definition

impostor

noun

im·​pos·​tor

variants or imposter

im-ˈpäs-tər 

: a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive

Legal Definition

impostor

noun

im·​pos·​tor

variants or imposter

im-ˈpäs-tər 

: one that assumes a false identity or title for the purpose of deception : impersonator