What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
personate
Example
He personated the villain in the play. [personated: verb]
Example
The lawyer was accused of personating his client in court. [personating: gerund or present participle]
impersonate
Example
He can impersonate famous celebrities with incredible accuracy. [impersonate: verb]
Example
The con artist was arrested for impersonating a police officer. [impersonating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Impersonate is more commonly used than personate in everyday language. Impersonate is often used in the context of comedy or crime, while personate is less common and more likely to be used in artistic or legal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between personate and impersonate?
Both personate and impersonate are relatively formal words that are more likely to be used in professional or legal contexts than in casual conversation.
