mimicry

noun

mim·​ic·​ry ˈmi-mi-krē How to pronounce mimicry (audio)
plural mimicries
1
a
: an instance of mimicking
b
: the action, practice, or art of mimicking
entertained his family with mimicry and comic skitsCynthia Ozick
2
: a superficial (see superficial sense 2b) resemblance of one organism to another or to natural objects among which it lives that secures it a selective advantage (such as protection from predation)

Examples of mimicry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An aura of mental health reasoning might instead be a highly computationally proficient form of mimicry, modeled on what people have said on the Internet is mental health reasoning or have provided examples of what mental health reasoning consists of. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The Cell’s late production designer Eiko Ishioka, who also worked on Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, would be honored by the mimicry. Vulture, 31 Jan. 2024 Kenya positioned herself a few inches behind him and added novelty to the mimicry, unfolding first one wing, then half of the other, then the second half: Ta-da! Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023 To expect conformity, after all, would risk perpetuating the Plastics’ own mistake, forcing a promising newcomer to be nothing more than an expert piece of mimicry. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2024 The authors concluded that this species of jumping spider relies on a combination of imperfect ant mimicry and coloration camouflage to ward off predators. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 May 2023 In 2024, some governments will likely adopt biometric mimicry to support psychological torture. Joy Buolamwini, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2024 Despite her artful mimicry, Alex never loses her sense of being an interloper. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2023 As an array of studies—and users themselves—attest, this mimicry has very real effects on peoples’ ability and willingness to trust a chatbot. Remaya M. Campbell, Scientific American, 17 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mimicry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of mimicry was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near mimicry

Cite this Entry

“Mimicry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mimicry. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mimicry

noun
mim·​ic·​ry ˈmim-i-krē How to pronounce mimicry (audio)
plural mimicries
1
: the action, art, or an instance of mimicking
2
: a resemblance of one living thing to another or to natural objects among which it lives that gives it an advantage (as concealment or protection from predators)

Medical Definition

mimicry

noun
mim·​ic·​ry ˈmim-i-krē How to pronounce mimicry (audio)
plural mimicries
: an instance of mimicking something
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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