mimetic

adjective

mi·​met·​ic mə-ˈme-tik How to pronounce mimetic (audio)
mī-
Synonyms of mimeticnext
1
: imitative
2
: relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting mimicry
mimetic coloring of a butterfly
mimetically
mə-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce mimetic (audio)
mī-
adverb

Synonyms

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Examples of mimetic in a Sentence

boys have a tendency toward mimetic behavior, often imitating their fathers at a fairly early age
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.
To get robotic collectives closer to Terminator’s mimetic polyalloy, the team wants to make the robots smaller. — Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2025 These mimetic dynamics play out not just within countries but between them. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 My heroes are all chameleonic actors who transform and manage to transcend something simply mimetic. — Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025 The mimetic principles already outlined in Vitruvius (primarily the idea that the classical orders imitate the structure of a primitive wooden construction) were, from the start, fig leaves, and widely understood as such. — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mimetic

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin mimeticus, from Greek mimētikos, from mimeisthai to imitate, from mimos mime

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mimetic was in 1637

Rhymes for mimetic

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Browse Nearby Words

mimetic
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Cite this Entry

“Mimetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mimetic. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

mimetic

adjective
mi·​met·​ic mə-ˈmet-ik How to pronounce mimetic (audio)
mī-
: relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting mimicry
mimetic coloring of a fish

Medical Definition

mimetic

adjective
mi·​met·​ic mə-ˈmet-ik How to pronounce mimetic (audio) mī- How to pronounce mimetic (audio)
: simulating the action or effect of
—usually used in combination
sympathomimetic drugs
adrenocorticomimetic activity
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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