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Definition of impostor

impostor

/ɪmˈpɑː.stɚ/
im · pos · tor
Plural:impostors
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impostor Lexical Profile

impostor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain.

Example

"Security guards quickly realized that the man claiming to be the visiting diplomat was an impostor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for impostor

Word Nuance & Usage

Both "impostor" and "imposter" are accepted spellings in modern English, though "impostor" is the older, etymologically standard spelling preferred in formal and editorial style guides.

• Rhymes for impostor

• Nearby Words

impossibility
impossible
impossibly
impostor
impotence
impotent
impotently

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from French imposteur, from Late Latin impostor ("deceiver"), a contraction of impositor, from the Latin verb imponere meaning "to impose upon or deceive."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Impostor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/impostor
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