impersonator
gb/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/ us/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
performer who imitates a celebrity
a person who acts like a famous person for fun or a show
Usage pattern:
an impersonator (of) [celebrity/person]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse impersonator (copying a person) with impersonation (the act) or with impostor (someone pretending to be someone else to trick people).
Synonyms
imitator (More general; not always a full character performance.)
|
look-alike (Focuses on appearance more than voice or behavior.)
Antonyms
original (The real person being copied, not a copy.)
Collocations
celebrity impersonator
|professional impersonator
|Elvis impersonator
|look-alike impersonator
|voice impersonator
|stage impersonator
|impersonator act
|impersonator show
|impersonator contest
|convincing impersonator
Themes
entertainment
|performing_arts
|music
|comedy
Examples
- The club hired an Elvis impersonator for the weekend show.
- She’s a gifted impersonator who can mimic several pop stars’ voices.
- The impersonator walked on stage in costume and copied the singer’s gestures perfectly.
Learner examples
- He is an impersonator in a show.
- The impersonator sounds like the famous actor.
Noun
C1
role
2
person who pretends to be another
someone who pretends to be another person to trick people
Usage pattern:
an impersonator posing as [someone/role]
Common mistake:
Impersonator often implies copying a particular person; impostor can be broader for someone pretending to belong or be qualified.
Synonyms
impostor (Common for someone pretending to be someone else or to have a role; not always tied to a specific identity.)
|
fraudster (Emphasizes criminal deception for money or advantage.)
Antonyms
legitimate representative (A real, authorized person rather than a fake.)
Collocations
police impersonator
|bank impersonator
|government impersonator
|online impersonator
|phone impersonator
|impersonator scam
|impersonator account
|impersonator email
|arrest an impersonator
|catch an impersonator
Themes
crime
|security
|technology
|law
Examples
- The caller turned out to be an impersonator pretending to be from the bank.
- Police warned residents about an impersonator going door to door claiming to be an officer.
- The company shut down several impersonator accounts on social media.
Learner examples
- An impersonator called me and asked for my password.
- The police caught the impersonator.
Noun
B2
role
3
person who mimics someone humorously
someone who copies another person’s voice or style, often as a joke
Usage pattern:
an impersonator of [someone]
Common mistake:
In casual contexts, people often say impressionist or mimic instead of impersonator.
Synonyms
mimic (Common and simple; focuses on copying sounds and mannerisms.)
|
impressionist (Often used for comedians doing famous voices and characters.)
Antonyms
individualist (Emphasizes having one’s own distinct style rather than copying others.)
Collocations
great impersonator
|skilled impersonator
|do an impersonator bit
|impersonator routine
|a spot-on impersonator
|office impersonator
|family impersonator
|impersonator voice
|impersonator impression
|natural impersonator
Themes
comedy
|social_life
|communication
Examples
- He’s an impersonator who can do perfect impressions of his teachers.
- At the party, she became the impersonator and copied everyone’s catchphrases.
- His friends loved him because he was such a funny impersonator.
Learner examples
- My brother is an impersonator and makes us laugh.
- She is good at impersonating our teacher.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impersonator
IPA
GB/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/
US/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
im - per - son - at - or (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (per)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: impersonator
- Plural: impersonators
Word family
Forms
impersonators
noun
Core family
impersonate
verb B2
impersonation
noun C1
Related words
imposter
noun
impostor
noun
Expressions
celebrity impersonator
1/səlˈɛbɹɪti ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
performer who imitates a celebrity
a performer who acts like a famous person
Examples
- They booked a celebrity impersonator to host the awards-night party.
- A celebrity impersonator greeted guests at the entrance and posed for photos.
impersonator account
1/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ əkˈaʊnt/
fixed phrase
fake social media profile
a fake online account that pretends to be someone
Examples
- She reported an impersonator account that was using her photos and name.
- The platform removed several impersonator accounts after the complaint.
impersonator scam
1/ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ skˈæm/
fixed phrase
fraud using a fake identity
a trick where someone pretends to be someone else to steal from you
Examples
- The email was part of an impersonator scam targeting new employees.
- Banks warn customers about impersonator scams that ask for one-time codes.
police impersonator
1/pəlˈis ɪmpˈɚsəneɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
person pretending to be police
someone who pretends to be a police officer
Examples
- The victims handed over cash to a police impersonator at the door.
- Authorities urged people to report any suspected police impersonator immediately.