What does impersonator mean?
An impersonator is someone who assumes the appearance, voice, behavior, or identity of another person. In entertainment, the term usually describes a performer who imitates a recognizable public figure with a comic, dramatic, or convincing impersonation act. In legal, commercial, or everyday contexts, it can refer to someone who pretends to be another person in order to deceive others or gain unauthorized access. The word carries a stronger association with assuming someone else’s identity than words such as “imitator,” which may describe copying a style or manner without impersonating a particular person. The term is used in both British and American English and is common in discussions of comedy, fraud, security, and political communication. Its interest lies in the tension between resemblance and identity: an effective impersonator can make another person’s manner feel natural while still remaining visibly or audibly distinct.
nounAn impersonator is a person who imitates another person’s appearance, voice, mannerisms, or identity, often for entertainment, deception, or political purposes. The term can also refer to someone who falsely assumes the identity of another person.
- A person who imitates the appearance, voice, or mannerisms of another person, especially as a performer.
- A person who falsely assumes another person’s identity or character in order to deceive others.
"The comedian is a skilled impersonator who can imitate several famous politicians with startling accuracy."
"The impersonator appeared onstage as the former prime minister and immediately silenced the audience."
"Detectives determined that the impersonator had obtained confidential information by pretending to be a company executive."
The plural is formed by adding “-s” to the noun.
"Several impersonators were hired to perform at the event."
An impersonator does more than copy a voice: the convincing part is making a borrowed identity feel entirely natural.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does impersonator come from?
The word was formed in English from “impersonate,” meaning to assume the character or identity of another person, together with the agent suffix “-or,” meaning a person who performs that action. “Impersonate” ultimately draws on the Latin prefix “im-” and “persona,” a term associated with the mask or character assumed by an actor. English later developed “personation” and related words in the same family, while the modern sense of the word became especially associated with performers who imitate public figures.
Related word forms
How impersonator is actually used
The word is most commonly used for performers who reproduce a recognizable person and, in crime or fraud contexts, for people who impersonate another individual. In British English, “impersonator” is the usual spelling; “impersonator” is also standard in American English.
Easily confused with impersonator
An impersonator generally assumes or reproduces another person’s identity, whereas a mimic primarily imitates sounds, actions, or mannerisms without necessarily claiming to be that person.