impersonator
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A person who imitates or pretends to be another person, especially for entertainment.
Someone who assumes the identity, appearance, or mannerisms of another individual, often professionally in comedy, tribute acts, or performance art. Can also refer to someone who fraudulently assumes another's identity for deceptive purposes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term typically carries a neutral or positive connotation when referring to entertainment (e.g., celebrity impersonators). In legal or security contexts, it can carry a negative connotation, implying deception or fraud.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with light entertainment (e.g., pantomime, comedy clubs) in British English. In American English, strongly associated with Las Vegas-style tribute acts and celebrity impersonation shows.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties. The compound 'celebrity impersonator' is very common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
impersonator of [person/celebrity]impersonator who [clause describing action]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a dead ringer for... (colloquial for looking like someone)”
- “He does a great [celebrity name]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in context of event planning ('hiring a celebrity impersonator for the conference').
Academic
Used in performance studies, media studies, or sociology discussing identity and representation.
Everyday
Common when discussing entertainment, comedy shows, or someone who is good at imitating others.
Technical
In cybersecurity or law, refers to someone who fraudulently assumes another's digital or legal identity.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He can impersonate the Prime Minister perfectly.
- It is a crime to impersonate a police officer.
American English
- She impersonates famous singers for a living.
- He was arrested for attempting to impersonate an FBI agent.
adverb
British English
- He performed impersonator-ly, capturing every mannerism. (Rare/Non-standard)
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The impersonator act was the highlight of the variety show.
- He has great impersonator skills.
American English
- She won the impersonator contest at the county fair.
- The impersonator comedy scene is huge in Las Vegas.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a funny impersonator.
- The impersonator looked like the king.
- We saw a brilliant Elvis impersonator at the theatre.
- She works as a professional celebrity impersonator for parties.
- The master impersonator not only sounded like the president but also replicated his gestures perfectly.
- Hiring a lookalike impersonator for the advertisement campaign proved to be a marketing success.
- The satirical impersonator's rendition of the political leader was so incisive that it sparked national debate.
- Beyond mere imitation, the finest impersonators deconstruct and reinterpret the essence of their subject's public persona.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
IM-PERSON-ATOR: Think of someone who steps INTO (IM) another PERSON's role, and the -ATOR ending shows they are the one DOING it.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMITATION IS A MASK (putting on another's identity as a covering), PERFORMANCE IS TRANSFORMATION (changing into another person).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'актёр' (actor) – это шире. 'Имперсонатор' – узкая специализация. Прямой аналог – 'имитатор' (но чаще для голоса/манер), 'пародист' (parodist) близко, но с комическим уклоном.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'impersonator' (person) with 'impersonation' (act).
- Using 'impersonator' to describe someone merely resembling another, without the act of performance.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'impersonator' most likely have a negative connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'impersonator' typically aims for a holistic imitation of a person, including appearance, voice, and mannerisms, often in a sustained performance. An 'impressionist' (in comedy) focuses primarily on vocal imitation, often switching quickly between many different voices.
No. While most common in entertainment, the term can be used in legal contexts (e.g., 'the criminal was an impersonator of a bank official') to describe fraudulent assumption of identity.
Yes, it can be used, though 'cosplayer' or 'character actor' might be more specific. A 'Darth Vader impersonator' at a fan convention would be a correct usage.
A performer, traditionally male, who dresses and performs as a woman. This is a specific subcategory of impersonation, often associated with drag performance, cabaret, or certain theatrical traditions like pantomime dames.