Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

impersonate

/ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.75 in modern English

Syllables: im-per-son-ate
IPA: /ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/

15

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To pretend to be (a different person); to assume the identity of, especially when there is an intent to deceive.

Transitive verb

verb

To operate with the permissions of a different user account.

Transitive verb

verb

To manifest in corporeal form; to personify.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"The conman managed to impersonate several executives."
"Evil can and will always impersonate goodness."
"The shepherds were impersonated, then the Magi, finally Herod himself. In course of time all the elements of a fully developed Nativity play had thus been introduced."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English im- Latin persōna Anglo-Norman persouneder. Middle English persoun English person Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English impersonate From im- + person + -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Usage

Inflected Forms

impersonates (present, singular) impersonating (participle, present) impersonated (participle, past) impersonated (past)

Derived Forms

impersonation impersonator unimpersonated

Frequently Paired Words

deepfake imitate mimic

Synonyms

personate embody impersonize pose portray

Questions

How do you pronounce impersonate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/.
What does impersonate mean?: To pretend to be (a different person); to assume the identity of, especially when there is an intent to deceive.
Where does impersonate come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English im- Latin persōna Anglo-Norman persouneder. Middle English persoun English person Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English impersonate From im- + person + -ate (verb-forming suffix).

How to pronounce impersonate

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