imitative

adjective

im·​i·​ta·​tive ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv How to pronounce imitative (audio)
 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for imitative 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of imitative was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near imitative

Cite this Entry

“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imitative. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

imitative

adjective
im·​i·​ta·​tive ˈim-ə-ˌtāt-iv How to pronounce imitative (audio)
1
: involving imitation
2
: given to imitating
3
: imitating something better
imitatively adverb

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