impostor

[ɪmˈpɒstə]

impostor Definition

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

Using impostor: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "impostor" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The man was an impostor who had stolen the identity of a doctor.

  • Example

    She was exposed as an impostor and lost her job.

  • Example

    The impostor had been posing as a police officer for months.

  • Example

    He was arrested for being an impostor and attempting to steal money.

impostor Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for impostor

Idioms Using impostor

  • smell a rat (or impostor)

    to sense that something is not right or that someone is not who they claim to be

    Example

    I smelled a rat when the supposed doctor couldn't answer basic medical questions.

  • pull the wool over someone's eyes

    to deceive or trick someone

    Example

    The con artist was able to pull the wool over the victim's eyes and steal their life savings.

  • catfishing

    the act of creating a fake online identity to deceive someone, often for romantic purposes

    Example

    She was catfished by someone pretending to be a wealthy businessman.

Phrases with impostor

  • a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud

    Example

    Despite her success, she still suffered from impostor syndrome and felt like she didn't deserve her achievements.

  • similar to impostor syndrome, a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud

    Example

    Many high-achieving individuals suffer from the impostor phenomenon, feeling like they don't deserve their success.

  • a fake or fraudulent social media account created to impersonate someone else

    Example

    The celebrity's management team worked to take down the impostor account that was pretending to be her.

Origins of impostor

from Middle English 'impostour', from Old French 'imposteur', from Latin 'impositor', from 'imponere' meaning 'to impose'

📌

Summary: impostor in Brief

An 'impostor' [ɪmˈpɒstə] is a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, often for fraudulent gain. It can refer to a person who steals another's identity or poses as a professional. 'Impostor' extends into phrases like 'impostor syndrome,' describing a psychological pattern of self-doubt, and idioms like 'smell a rat,' indicating suspicion.

How do native speakers use this expression?