What does mimicry mean?
Mimicry is the act or practice of imitating the appearance, speech, movements, or behaviour of someone or something. In everyday use, it may describe an entertainer’s convincing impression of a public figure, a child copying a parent, or a deliberate attempt to resemble another person. The word can sometimes suggest superficial copying or deception, although it is also used neutrally for skilled imitation. In biology, mimicry has a more specific meaning: an organism resembles another organism or an object in a way that can discourage predators, attract prey, or otherwise influence an observer’s behaviour. Protective mimicry, for example, makes a harmless species resemble a dangerous one. Mimicry is useful as a word because it connects an ordinary human activity—copying appearance or behaviour—with the remarkable evolutionary strategies found throughout the natural world.
nounThe act or practice of imitating another person’s appearance, speech, movements, or behaviour. In biology, it refers to an organism’s resemblance to another organism or to an object, often helping it avoid predators or capture prey.
- The imitation of another person’s appearance, speech, movements, or behaviour.
- In biology, the resemblance of an organism to another organism or to an object, which may help it avoid predators, capture prey, or deceive other organisms.
"Her remarkable mimicry of the comedian’s voice and gestures brought the audience to its feet."
"The actor’s mimicry of his grandfather was both affectionate and uncannily precise."
"Some butterflies rely on mimicry, resembling poisonous species that predators learn to avoid."
The plural is standard but uncommon; singular mimicry is normally preferred in continuous writing.
"The collection explores the mimicries of fashion and identity in modern society."
A harmless hoverfly can survive because its markings make predators mistake it for a bee or wasp.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mimicry
The word ultimately derives from Greek mimos, meaning a mime or imitator, through Latin mimus, the source of the English word mimic. The English noun mimicry was formed by adding the suffix -ry to mimic, creating a word for the activity or practice of imitation. Related English words such as mime and mimetic come from the same ancient Greek root.
How mimicry is actually used
In general use, mimicry can suggest close imitation and may sometimes carry the implication of copying without originality. In biological writing it is a technical term for an adaptive resemblance and is neutral rather than disparaging.
Easily confused with mimicry
A mimic is a person or thing that imitates someone or something, whereas mimicry is the imitation itself or the general practice of imitation.
Parody is usually a deliberately humorous or critical imitation of a work or style, while mimicry can be serious, neutral, or humorous.