impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
im-ˈpä-stər 
variants
or imposter
: one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception
Synonyms
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
In Shenzhen’s 2018 half marathon, 258 participants were caught cheating, most of whom had taken shortcuts though some wore fake bibs and others were impostors.
—
Reuters, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
Maybe the Ivy League tournament champions sent an impostor team, too.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impostor 
Reuters, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
Maybe the Ivy League tournament champions sent an impostor team, too.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impostor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impostor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near impostor
Cite this Entry
“Impostor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impostor. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
variants
or imposter
: a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive
Legal Definition
impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
variants
or imposter
: one that assumes a false identity or title for the purpose of deception : impersonator
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