Imitative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv/ im·i·ta·tive

Meaning & Definition of Imitative

Imitative (adjective)

  1. marked by imitation
  2. reproducing or representing a natural sound, onomatopoeic
  3. exhibiting mimicry

Imitative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model

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

    similar: apish, canned, emulative, epigonic, formulaic, mimetic, mimic, slavish, unoriginal
    related: copied, cribbed, plagiarized, artificial, bogus, factitious, fake, false, imitation, man-made, mock, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic, duplicated, photocopied, reduplicated, reproduced, transcribed, backup, counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading, cut-and-dried, perfunctory, routine, uninspired
    opposite: archetypal, original
    near: authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true, genuine, natural, real, classic, ideal, model

  2. being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials

    "an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing"

    similar: artificial, bogus, dummy, ersatz, factitious, fake, false, faux, imitation, man-made, mimic, mock, pretend, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic
    related: cultured, manufactured, process, unauthentic, adulterated, designer, doctored, engineered, fudged, juggled, manipulated, tampered (with), concocted, fabricated, counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading, phony, affected, brummagem, feigned, pinchbeck, pseudo, spurious
    opposite: genuine, natural, real
    near: authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true, premium, quality, valuable, pure, unadulterated

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Imitative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Imitative:

apish, canned, emulative, epigonic, formulaic, mimetic, mimic, slavish, unoriginal, artificial, bogus, dummy, ersatz, factitious, fake, false, faux, imitation, man-made, mock, pretend, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Imitative

Words with the opposite meaning of Imitative:

archetypal, original, genuine, natural, real

Related Words for Imitative

copied, cribbed, plagiarized, duplicated, photocopied, reduplicated, reproduced, transcribed, backup, counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading, cut-and-dried, perfunctory, routine, uninspired, cultured, manufactured, process, unauthentic, adulterated, designer, doctored, engineered, fudged, juggled, manipulated, tampered (with)

Near Antonyms of Imitative

authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true, classic, ideal, model, premium, quality, valuable, pure, unadulterated

Word Forms of Imitative

Derived words: imitatively (adverb), imitativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Imitative

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

First known use: 1584

Frequently Asked Questions about Imitative

What does "Imitative" mean?

"Imitative" means marked by imitation. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by imitation. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Imitative"?

Other words for "Imitative" include apish, canned, emulative, epigonic, formulaic, mimetic, mimic and slavish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Imitative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Imitative"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Imitative". Common alternatives include apish, canned, emulative, epigonic, formulaic, mimetic, mimic, slavish, unoriginal and artificial.

What is the opposite of "Imitative"?

Antonyms of "Imitative" include archetypal, original, genuine, natural and real. Near antonyms include authentic, bona fide, legitimate and true.

How do you use "Imitative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Imitative" in a sentence: "your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read"; "an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing".

Is "Imitative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Imitative" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Imitative"?

"Imitative" is pronounced /ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv/ and divided into syllables as im·i·ta·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Imitative"?

"Imitative" comes from borrowed from Late Latin imitātīvus, from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī "to follow as a pattern, imitate" + -īvus -ive. First known use: 1584.