impersonation

/im,pə:sə'neiʃn/
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Thân thiện
impersonation

A student does a funny impersonation of the teacher for the class.

Definition

Noun 1. The act of imitating the appearance, voice, or mannerisms of another person, often for entertainment or deception. * This is the core meaning, focusing on the action of copying someone else's characteristics. 2. A representation of a person, especially one that is exaggerated for comic or satirical effect. * This meaning emphasizes the result or performance, often in comedy or parody. 3. (Law/Computing) The criminal or fraudulent act of pretending to be another person. * This is a specific, serious application involving deception for illegal gain or access.

Usage and Examples
  • Entertainment Imitation:
    • The comedian's impersonation of the president had the entire audience laughing.
    • She is famous for her spot-on impersonation of several Hollywood celebrities.
  • Fraudulent Pretense:
    • He was arrested for impersonation after trying to cash a check using his brother's ID.
    • The scam involved impersonation of a bank official over the phone.
  • As a Performance or Act:
    • His impersonation was so convincing, some people thought the real singer was on stage.
    • The film features a brilliant impersonation of a famous historical figure.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "Imperfect Impersonation": An imitation that is not entirely accurate or convincing.
    • His attempt was an amusing but imperfect impersonation of his boss.
  • In legal contexts, it is often part of compound terms like "identity impersonation" or "criminal impersonation," which are specific offenses.
  • In computing and cybersecurity, "impersonation attack" refers to a malicious actor pretending to be a legitimate user or system.
Variants and Related Words
  • Impersonate (verb): To pretend to be another person.
    • It is illegal to impersonate a police officer.
  • Impersonator (noun): A person who impersonates others, especially as a job or performance.
    • He is a professional celebrity impersonator.
Synonyms
  • Imitation: Copying the behavior or speech of another.
  • Impression: A performance that imitates a person's mannerisms for comic effect (often lighter than ).
  • Personation: A formal synonym, often used in legal contexts.
  • Masquerade: A false show or pretense.
Antonyms
  • Authenticity: The quality of being genuine or real.
  • Sincerity: The absence of pretense or deception.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To do an impersonation of [someone]: To perform an imitation.
    • Can you do an impersonation of your teacher?
  • Under the impersonation of: Pretending to be a specific person or role.
    • The thief gained entry under the impersonation of a maintenance worker.
impersonation

A student does a funny impersonation of the teacher for the class.

Noun
  1. imitating the mannerisms of another person
  2. pretending to be another person
  3. a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect

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