MEANING
The imitation of another being's appearance, sound, or behavior; in biology, resemblance with an adaptive function.
Use it for
A predator borrowing a trusted voice; an imitation exposing itself through a small error; disguised identityMake copied details convincing before showing the mismatch.
Words that belong together
- vocal mimicry
- deceptive mimicry
- uncanny mimicry
On the page
Its mimicry of her son's voice was almost exact.
The creature's mimicry failed when it tried to laugh.
He recognized mimicry, not recognition, in the repeated greeting.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- mimicry
Usage notes
Primary category: horror. An imitation need not be consciously planned. Biological mimicry has specific mechanisms; a copied human voice is an ordinary broader use. Usually uncountable in this sense; no routine plural. Derived/related family (not inflections): mimic (noun and verb).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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