What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
emulation
Example
The young athlete showed great emulation towards her role model, training hard to achieve similar success. [emulation: noun]
Example
The company's success was due to its emulation of industry leaders' best practices. [emulation: gerund or present participle]
imitation
Example
The child's imitation of her favorite singer was spot-on. [imitation: noun]
Example
The artist's work was criticized for being too derivative and lacking originality. [imitation: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imitation is more commonly used than emulation in everyday language. Imitation is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while emulation is less common and refers to a specific type of copying or replicating.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between emulation and imitation?
Both emulation and imitation can be used in formal and informal contexts, but emulation may be more commonly used in academic or professional settings where the focus is on achieving excellence or innovation.
