mimicry

noun

mim·ic·ry | \ ˈmi-mi-krē

plural mimicries

Definition of mimicry

1a : 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

Why Verge readers might care: Mr. Robot star Rami Malek plays Mercury, and early looks at the movie have mostly focused on his sound-alike performance and impressive mimicry of the singer’s moves and body language. — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "The Verge fall movie preview, November 2018," 6 Sep. 2018 In an industry infamous for mimicry, other producers haven’t been able to duplicate his success. — Alex Bhattacharji, WSJ, "How Producer Jason Blum is Disrupting Hollywood," 16 July 2018 The suit points out that 2017 was the first year in which more than half of products sold on Amazon were listed by third-party sellers, in a mimicry of eBay’s longtime business model. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, Vox, "eBay is suing Amazon over an alleged “scheme” to steal its top sellers," 18 Oct. 2018 But the main event came courtesy of Finn Buchanan, who closed the show in a blonde buzz stamped all over with iconic Coach monogram in a clever mimicry of animal print—and a nod to Bovan's seasons-long collaboration with Stuart Vevers. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Hot Pink Hair! Printed Buzz Cuts! Punk is the New Pretty at London Fashion Week," 15 Sep. 2018 Location: Costa Rica Plenty of creatures use mimicry and camouflage to great effect, but this tiny beetle takes it to another level. — Sean Greene, latimes.com, "A rare great ape, a 130-foot-tall tree and an extinct marsupial lion make the Top 10 New Species list for 2018," 23 May 2018 Both saxophonists evoke the concise, often clipped, syntax of Mr. Threadgill’s playing without resorting to mimicry: Mr. Filiú (who also plays alto flute) with an urgent intensity, and Mr. Macdonald through more of a narrative arc. — Larry Blumenfeld, WSJ, "‘Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus’ and ‘Dirt… and More Dirt’ Reviews," 22 May 2018 Debbie hands off her baby and steps into the ring; Ruth’s mimicry of aggression turns into a frantic, failed attempt at de-escalation. — Sonia Saraiya, HWD, "Marc Maron Is Great in GLOW, and Maybe That’s a Problem," 29 June 2018 He was known for his flair on the campaign trail, his talent for mimicry, his love of a good party, and his personal style. — Elizabeth Angell, Town & Country, "A Very English Scandal," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mimicry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.