impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
im-ˈpä-stər 
variants
or imposter
: one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception
Examples of impostor in a Sentence
He claimed he was an experienced pilot, but he turned out to be an impostor.
the man who claimed to be a prince turned out to be an impostor
Recent Examples on the Web
Job-seeking impostors, including deepfakes, are exploiting the remote work trend, defrauding U.S. companies and potentially threatening U.S. national security, according to experts.
—
Anuz Thapa,hugh Son, CNBC, 11 July 2025
As in 2023, impostor scams topped the list again last year.
—James Garvert, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Zoom out: Investment and impostor scams took the biggest financial tolls last year, the FTC says, with consumers losing $5.7 billion and nearly $3 billion to each, respectively.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
In May 2024, the Justice Department alleged that more than 300 U.S. companies had unknowingly hired impostors tied to North Korea for remote IT roles, resulting in at least $6.8 million in overseas revenue.
—Anuz Thapa,hugh Son, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor
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Anuz Thapa,hugh Son, CNBC, 11 July 2025
As in 2023, impostor scams topped the list again last year.
—James Garvert, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Zoom out: Investment and impostor scams took the biggest financial tolls last year, the FTC says, with consumers losing $5.7 billion and nearly $3 billion to each, respectively.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
In May 2024, the Justice Department alleged that more than 300 U.S. companies had unknowingly hired impostors tied to North Korea for remote IT roles, resulting in at least $6.8 million in overseas revenue.
—Anuz Thapa,hugh Son, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor
Cite this Entry
“Impostor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impostor. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
variants
or imposter
: a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive
Legal Definition
impostor
noun
im·pos·tor
variants
or imposter
: one that assumes a false identity or title for the purpose of deception : impersonator
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