What does "impostor" mean?
Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.
Impostor
/ɪmˈpɒstə/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.
- Grammar: impostor is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: fraud, pretender, ape, beguiler.
- Useful contrasts: authentic person, credentialed professional, genuine article.
- Usage evidence: You call me an Impostor! And why?
How to use "impostor"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "impostor" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "impostor" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "impostor" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "impostor" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "impostor" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fraud" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "impostor", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.
""It were dishonour in me to yield. I will not play the part of an impostor, whom my uncle must despise even while he screens. No; these estates are his right: let him take them; I will not buy them with his daughter's hand.""
- 2 a person who makes deceitful pretenses wordnet
- 3 A sprite or animation integrated into a three-dimensional scene to look like part of the 3D world.
- 4 A term referenced in an unusual grammatical person.
"Interestingly, Wang shows that Chinese allows the appearance of an indexical pronoun alongside the imposter, as in (31)."
Antonyms
authentic personcredentialed professionalgenuine articlelegitimate holder
Example
"You call me an Impostor! And why?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "impostor"?
Common synonyms include: fraud, pretender, ape, beguiler, blagueur, bluff.
How do you use "impostor" in a sentence?
You call me an Impostor! And why?
How do you pronounce "impostor"?
Pronounced /ɪmˈpɒstə/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French imposteur, respelled in the Latin manner; ultimately from Latin impositor, agent form of Latin imponere (“to impose”).