im·i·ta·tion
ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən
1
: an act or instance of imitating
Children learn by imitation of adults.
He did a hilarious imitation of his father.
2
: something produced as a copy : counterfeit
a cheap/poor imitation
an imitation of mid-century architecture
3
: a literary work designed to reproduce the style of another author
4
: the repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voice
5
philosophy
: the quality of an object in possessing some of the nature or attributes of a transcendent idea
6
psychology
: the conscious or unconscious assumption of behavior observed in other individuals
: resembling something else that is usually genuine and of better quality : not real
imitation leather
Cite this Entry
“Imitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imitation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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