What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imitational
Example
The artist's imitational painting of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' was impressive. [imitational: adjective]
Example
The comedian's imitational skills were spot-on, mimicking famous celebrities with ease. [imitational: noun]
imitative
Example
The child's imitative behavior of her parents was adorable. [imitative: adjective]
Example
The band's music was imitative of classic rock bands from the 70s. [imitative: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imitative is more commonly used than imitational in everyday language. Imitative is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while imitational is less common and more specific to the context of art or performance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imitational and imitative?
Both imitational and imitative are relatively formal words, but imitative can be used in a wider range of formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
