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

What The Apprentice does have to offer is a masterful slate of performances that far exceed the usual mimicry of many buzzy Hollywood biopics. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2024

Only a few in the periphery, such as Japan, got the mimicry right. —Jeremy Adelman, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2015

Such rules are intended to protect people from both pornographic deepfakes and artistic mimicry. —Arthur Holland Michel, WIRED, 24 July 2024

It's also commonly held that young kids are the world's best copycats, and this is where a lifelong path of parental mimicry begins. —Elly Parsons, refinery29.com, 6 Mar. 2024

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