Impersonator

Impersonator

An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:

* Legally: An entertainer impersonates a celebrity, generally for entertainment, and makes fun of their recent scandals or known behaviour patterns. Entertainers who impersonate multiple celebrities as part of their act are typically called impressionists.
* Illegally: As part of a criminal act such as identity theft. This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information, or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering.
* Political decoy, used as a form of protection for political and military figures. This involves an impersonator who is employed (or forced) to perform during public appearances, to mislead observers.

ee also

*Impostor
*Personation
*Wannabe


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Impersonator — Im*per son*a tor, n. One who impersonates; an actor; a mimic. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • impersonator — (n.) one who assumes the person or character of another, 1853, from IMPERSONATE (Cf. impersonate) with Latinate agent noun suffix …   Etymology dictionary

  • impersonator — *actor, player, mummer, mime, mimic, performer, thespian, trouper …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • impersonator — UK [ɪmˈpɜː(r)s(ə)nˌeɪtə(r)] / US [ɪmˈpɜrs(ə)nˌeɪtər] noun [countable] Word forms impersonator : singular impersonator plural impersonators someone who impersonates someone else in order to make people laugh, especially as a job …   English dictionary

  • impersonator — /im perr seuh nay teuhr/, n. 1. a person who pretends to be another. 2. an actor who impersonates specific persons or types of persons as a form of entertainment. 3. See female impersonator. [1850 55; IMPERSONATE + OR2] * * * …   Universalium

  • impersonator — Synonyms and related words: ape, artist, artiste, belly dancer, blagueur, bluff, bluffer, burlesque queen, charlatan, chorine, chorus boy, chorus girl, conformist, conjurer, copier, copycat, copyist, coryphee, counterfeiter, cuckoo, dancer,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • impersonator — im|per|son|a|tor [ımˈpə:səneıtə US ˈpə:rsəneıtər] n someone who copies the way that other people look, speak, and behave, as part of a performance ▪ a female impersonator …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • impersonator — [[t]ɪmpɜ͟ː(r)səneɪtə(r)[/t]] impersonators N COUNT An impersonator is a stage performer who impersonates famous people. Syn: impressionist …   English dictionary

  • impersonator — impersonate ► VERB ▪ pretend to be (another person) for entertainment or fraud. DERIVATIVES impersonation noun impersonator noun. ORIGIN from IN (Cf. ↑in ) + Latin persona person …   English terms dictionary

  • impersonator — noun see impersonate …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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