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expy

expy

9.9
A character or work clearly based on one from another story
  • noun
  • /ˈɛkspi/
  • Jargon
translation icon : expy
  • The villain in the new movie is an obvious expy of a classic comic book character.

Examples

  • Writers sometimes create an expy to pay tribute to their favorite stories.

  • The character in the novel is a clear expy of a famous historical figure.

  • Fans debated whether the protagonist was just an expy of the author's earlier hero.

  • Many fans recognized the expy of their favorite superhero in the movie.

  • In the film 'The New Adventure', the main character is an expy of Sherlock Holmes, complete with a similar hat and investigative skills.

  • The politician's speech was filled with references to an expy of a famous historical leader, aiming to inspire the audience.

  • The video game features an expy of a well-known superhero, complete with a similar costume and powers.

Synonyms

example
vsexpy
515 1.0

A person or thing to copy because they do something good

is used to represent a particular element from a different work not to imitate
exemplar
vsexpy
16 7.2

A person or thing that shows very good behavior for others to copy

is a representational stand-in modeled to match a character or element
simulacrum
vsexpy
  • Formal
2 9.9

Something that looks like the real thing but is not

is a clear, intentional model that stands in for another work

Antonyms

2.8

Not a copy and existing as the first form

How Similar

clone
33 5.5
expy
  • Jargon
9.9
pastiche
  • Literature
6 8.6
to homage
7.5
inspiration
122 3.4

Surface Forms

expy singular
expies plural

Etymology

Expy is a slang short form of the word example. A helpful way to remember it is to think of an 'example' character who stands in for or copies another character, so an expy is a clear copy or tribute to someone from a different story.