imposter
10 synonyms for imposter, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who pretends to be someone else, or to have a position or qualification they do not have, in order to deceive people.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use imposter
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
imposter syndrome
expose an imposter
feel like an imposter
Neutral. In edited British publishing, impostor may still be corrected to the -or spelling.
Etymology
From Latin impostor, a contraction of impositor 'one who imposes upon others', which reached English through French.
Full origin of imposter →Frequently asked questions
Is it imposter or impostor?
Both are correct. Impostor with an 'o' is the older spelling and is still preferred by many dictionaries and style guides, but imposter is now very widely used, particularly in the phrase imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
It describes the experience of doubting your own abilities and fearing that others will discover you are not as capable as they think, despite clear evidence of competence. It is a widely recognised pattern of feeling rather than a formal medical diagnosis.
