Impostor
/ɪmˈpɑːstər/
nounB2
Definition
An impostor is someone who lies about who they really are. They pretend to be a different person to fool others, often to get money, trust, or a special position. This word is used when the act of pretending is meant to trick or cheat.
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See It in Action
A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people
- •The impostor used a fake ID to enter the building.
- •She realized the man was an impostor pretending to be a doctor.
- •The impostor fooled everyone by copying the real person's voice.
Someone who feels like they do not deserve their success or position (less common meaning, related to "impostor syndrome")
- •Many people feel like impostors at their new jobs.
- •He suffered from impostor feelings even though he was very skilled.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "impostor" like "liar," but more specific—someone who lies about their identity, not just facts
- ✓Picture a person wearing a mask at a party, hiding their real face to pretend to be someone else
- ✓It's the feeling when you find out a friend was not really your friend but someone pretending to be nice
- ✓Sounds like "im-PAW-ster" → imagine a cat (paw) pretending to be a dog, trying to fool other animals
- ✓Remember stories or movies where a spy or thief pretends to be an important person to get secret information
- ✓NOT like "actor" (pretends for fun or work), an impostor pretends to trick others for personal gain
- ✓NOT like "friend" (real person), an impostor is fake and dishonest about who they are
Try Other Words
- •Fraud: a person who cheats or tricks others (Use when the focus is on illegal or dishonest behavior)
- •Pretender: someone who claims to be something they are not (Use when the pretending is about identity or position)
- •Phony: a person who is not real or sincere (Use in informal situations to describe someone fake)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "im-" (not, into) + "postor" (from Latin "impostor," meaning one who imposes or deceives)
- •Etymology: From Latin "impostor," meaning a person who deceives by pretending to be someone else
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe people who trick others by pretending to be someone else
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday language, stories, and psychology (impostor syndrome) to describe identity deception or feelings of fraudulence
Reflect & Connect
•Have you ever met someone who acted like an impostor? How did it make you feel?
•Why do you think some people become impostors instead of being honest about who they are?
Fill in the blanks
1.The impostor used a fake passport to ___ his true identity.
2.When someone feels like an impostor, they often ___ their own skills or success.
3.Unlike an actor, an impostor tries to ___ others for personal gain.
4.The police caught the impostor after he ___ to be a police officer.
5.People often call someone an impostor if they ___ to have qualifications they do not have.
6.To avoid being discovered, the impostor had to ___ his story carefully.
7.The impostor’s goal was to ___ trust before stealing money.