What does imitative mean?
Imitative means that something resembles, copies, or reproduces the form, appearance, or behaviour of something else. It commonly describes speech, writing, art, gestures, or practices that follow a model rather than developing an entirely distinctive character. Calling a person’s voice imitative usually suggests that it resembles another person’s voice, while imitative art is based on reproducing an original rather than inventing an independent style. The word can carry a negative implication of superficiality or lack of originality, but in academic discussion it may be used neutrally. Anthropologists have also used the established phrase imitative magic for rituals intended to reproduce the effects of natural forces or other actions. Derived from the Latin root imitari, meaning “to follow” or “copy,” imitative belongs to a family of English words including imitation, imitate, and imitator. Its usefulness lies in describing the pervasive human tendency to learn and communicate by observing and reproducing patterns.
adjectiveResembling or reproducing the appearance, behaviour, or form of someone or something. In cultural or anthropological contexts, it describes a form of art or practice based on copying an original or model.
- Resembling or reproducing the appearance, behaviour, or form of someone or something.
- Based on copying an original, model, or example, especially in cultural or anthropological contexts.
"The documentary uses an imitative style to recreate the atmosphere of the period."
"The child’s imitative play involved repeating every gesture made by the older children."
"Scholars once described certain rituals as examples of imitative magic."
From copying a bird’s call to reproducing the rhythms of ancient ritual, imitation shapes much of what people call creativity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does imitative come from?
Imitative comes through French from the Latin adjective imitativeus, meaning “of or resembling an imitation,” which was derived from imitari, “to follow” or “copy.” The same Latin root produced English words such as imitation, imitate, imitable, and imitator. Its development from a general word for copying to more specialised uses in art and anthropology reflects the long-standing study of how imitation shapes culture and ritual.
Related word forms
How imitative is actually used
The term is neutral to mildly critical when describing language or behaviour, since it can suggest unoriginal imitation. In specialist descriptions of art, religion, and ritual, it has a more specific technical use.
Easily confused with imitative
Imitative describes something that copies or resembles a model, whereas imitable describes someone or something that can be copied or imitated.
Imitative means characterized by imitation, while imitative is a less common adjective describing something copied or resembling an original.