impersonate
verb
im·per·son·ate
im-ˈpər-sə-ˌnāt 
impersonated; impersonating
: to assume or act the character of : personate
Examples of impersonate in a Sentence
He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
a comedian with a talent for impersonating famous politicians and actors
Recent Examples on the Web
Authorities in New York City are searching for a man who allegedly impersonated a federal immigration enforcement agent before trying to rape a 51-year-old woman in broad daylight, according to police sources.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
One of those bills also would crack down on people who impersonate first responders during a wildfire.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
He was booked for investigation of one count of felony kidnapping, impersonating a law enforcement officer and two other misdemeanors.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2025
Many parts of the story are difficult to corroborate, including a moment when federal agents surprised Webb and her son at a hospital to draw their blood with the staff’s permission or when a man showed up at her home impersonating an Alameda police sergeant.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impersonate
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Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
One of those bills also would crack down on people who impersonate first responders during a wildfire.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
He was booked for investigation of one count of felony kidnapping, impersonating a law enforcement officer and two other misdemeanors.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2025
Many parts of the story are difficult to corroborate, including a moment when federal agents surprised Webb and her son at a hospital to draw their blood with the staff’s permission or when a man showed up at her home impersonating an Alameda police sergeant.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impersonate
Cite this Entry
“Impersonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impersonate. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impersonate
verb
im·per·son·ate
im-ˈpərs-ᵊn-ˌāt
impersonated; impersonating
: to pretend to be some other person
impersonate a police officer
impersonation
noun
-ˌpərs-ᵊn-ˈā-shən
impersonator
noun
-ˈpərs-ᵊn-ˌāt-ər
Legal Definition
impersonate
transitive verb
im·per·son·ate
im-ˈpər-sə-ˌnāt
impersonated; impersonating
: to assume (another's or a fictitious identity) without authority and with fraudulent intent
impersonate a police officer
impersonated a public servant by saying he was from the water department
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