What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imitation
Example
The child's imitation of his mother's accent was impressive. [imitation: noun]
Example
She imitated the bird's chirping sound perfectly. [imitated: verb]
copy
Example
I made a copy of the report for you. [copy: noun]
Example
He copied the painting stroke by stroke. [copied: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Copy is more commonly used than imitation in everyday language. Copy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while imitation is less common and refers to a specific type of replication.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imitation and copy?
Both imitation and copy can be used in formal and informal contexts, but copy is more commonly used in formal settings such as business or legal documents.
