mimicry

noun

mim·​ic·​ry ˈmi-mi-krē 

plural mimicries

1

a

: an instance of mimicking

b

: the action, practice, or art of mimicking

entertained his family with mimicry and comic skits

—Cynthia Ozick

2

: a superficial (see superficial sense 2b) resemblance of one organism to another or to natural objects among which it lives that secures it a selective advantage (such as protection from predation)

Examples of mimicry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lobster potentially lives on the urchin as a mimicry behavior, when one organism mimics the physical appearance of another for protection or other benefits. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025

In the span of a few quarters, impersonation has graduated from trickery to full-spectrum mimicry. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

The genre spoofing plays too often like mere mimicry without much wit. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025

The mimicry of behaviors by a monarch needs to stop. —Barron Witherspoon Sr, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

mimicry

noun

mim·​ic·​ry ˈmim-i-krē 

plural mimicries

1

: the action, art, or an instance of mimicking

2

: a resemblance of one living thing to another or to natural objects among which it lives that gives it an advantage (as concealment or protection from predators)

Medical Definition

mimicry

noun

mim·​ic·​ry ˈmim-i-krē 

plural mimicries

: an instance of mimicking something