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
Idioms Using 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.
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.
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.
