Impostor

An impostor is a person who deceives others by pretending to be someone else, especially in order to trick people into believing they possess skills, knowledge, or status they do not actually have. The deception can range from harmless pretending, such as role-playing, to malicious fraud. The core element of an impostor is the act of assuming a false identity, whether overtly through impersonation or more subtly through the fabrication of accomplishments or expertise. This deception can lead to a variety of consequences, from simple embarrassment to significant financial or social harm.

Impostor meaning with examples

• The con artist posed as a wealthy businessman, charming investors and securing large sums of money. His carefully constructed persona, complete with a fake accent and fabricated credentials, allowed him to successfully dupe his victims for years before his fraudulent activities were exposed, and he was revealed as an impostor.
• Despite being a self-proclaimed expert, the 'doctor' showed no real understanding of medicine and made up all the required paperwork. The patient's family soon began to realize this after the wrong prescription was given, realizing they had been betrayed by an impostor.
• The actress worried she was an impostor, plagued by doubt about her talent. Despite critical acclaim and awards, she constantly felt like a fraud, terrified that the audience would discover she wasn't truly skilled, and so often found herself questioning her abilities.
• The impostor slipped past security, and began acting like the president of the company. They successfully managed to sign several important documents before someone with a genuine interest realized this and quickly identified them as the person they were not.
• During the interrogation, the suspected spy struggled to maintain the facade of a loyal citizen. His nervous demeanor and inconsistencies in his fabricated backstory quickly unraveled his disguise, exposing him as an impostor working for the enemy, or at least that is what he had claimed.