Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mimetic desire

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.19 in modern English

Syllables: mimet-ic de-sire
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A desire that is imitative, and not related to the desired object's intrinsic value, based on the idea that human desires arise from imitation and competitive behavior in groups.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Having transcended his own mimetic desires, [Peter] Thiel was now free to capitalise on those of others."

Etymology

Coined by French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science René Girard in 1961.

Usage

Inflected Forms

mimetic desires (plural)

Questions

What does mimetic desire mean?: A desire that is imitative, and not related to the desired object's intrinsic value, based on the idea that human desires arise from imitation and competitive behavior in groups.
Where does mimetic desire come from?: Coined by French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science René Girard in 1961.

How to pronounce mimetic desire

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