imitative

adjective

im·​i·​ta·​tive ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv 

 especially British  -tə-tiv

1

a

: marked by imitation

acting is an imitative art

b

: reproducing or representing a natural sound : onomatopoeic

"hiss" is an imitative word

c

: exhibiting mimicry

2

: inclined to imitate

3

: imitating something superior : counterfeit

imitatively adverb

imitativeness noun

Synonyms

• apish
• canned
• emulative
• epigonic
• epigonous
• formulaic
• mimetic
• mimic
• slavish
• unoriginal

Examples of imitative in a Sentence

The architecture is imitative of a Japanese temple.

your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read

Recent Examples on the Web

Aziz rolled out a summer crime imitative in 2021, shortly after his tenure began. —Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 30 July 2024

The Emory oak restoration imitative to preserve groves in the region recently marked its fifth anniversary, Peacey said. —The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024

Girard drew from his early-career studies of literary figures such as Proust the insight that desire is essentially imitative (or mimetic) rather than straightforwardly directed toward its apparent objects. —Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023

Mae’s life aligns with the repetitive, imitative work of Warhol, showing us that the story of growing into an adult — becoming a woman — is a story of aesthetic creation. —Bekah Waalkes, Washington Post, 10 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin imitātīvus, from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī "to follow as a pattern, imitate" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

Kids Definition

imitative

adjective

im·​i·​ta·​tive ˈim-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

1

: involving imitation

2

: given to imitating

3

: imitating something better

imitatively adverb