impersonate
verb
im·per·son·ate
im-ˈpər-sə-ˌnāt 
impersonated; impersonating
: to assume or act the character of : personate
impersonating a police officer
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
By impersonating trusted entities—including tax offices, police, airlines, and banks—the scammers share fake or modified apps to bypass security and drain victims’ bank accounts.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
In a message from True Religion to Saba following the incident, the brand said the report was filed due to Saba’s unauthorized entry to the offices by impersonating as a delivery person and his initial refusal to leave, which alarmed the brand’s staff.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Apr. 2026
The account, which impersonated Jonathan’s veterinarian, Joe Hollins, quickly gained traction and sparked concern among fans around the world.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impersonate
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Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
In a message from True Religion to Saba following the incident, the brand said the report was filed due to Saba’s unauthorized entry to the offices by impersonating as a delivery person and his initial refusal to leave, which alarmed the brand’s staff.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Apr. 2026
The account, which impersonated Jonathan’s veterinarian, Joe Hollins, quickly gained traction and sparked concern among fans around the world.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impersonate
Cite this Entry
“Impersonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impersonate. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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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