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mimetism

mimetism

9.9
A habit of copying how other people act, speak, or dress
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪməˌtɪzəm/
translation icon : mimetismo
  • His mimetism was evident when he started to dress and speak like his new friends, adjusting to their customs.

Examples

  • Yet they bond and develop friendships, not exclusive like the specular pairs of friends praised by the classic philosophers, but rather inclusive, tracing wide circles of positive mimetism around them.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Mimetism breaks down individual differences.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The relation of mimetism to violence has further obscured this conduct, for we understand human violence only to the extent that we contain or control it by means of reciprocal or greater violence.

    Academic text (1993)
  • In social gatherings, mimetism often helps people feel more connected by imitating each other's expressions and behaviors.

  • The study examined how mimetism influences group dynamics, highlighting its role in building rapport among individuals.

Synonyms

imitation
vsmimetism
19 3.0

Copying another person's actions or speech to learn from them

is about a general social practice of following others over time
mimicry
vsmimetism
2 4.6

Copying someone's voice, face and actions to entertain or trick people

is a social tendency rather than a deliberate act for entertainment or trickery
channeling
vsmimetism
  • Informal
1 6.0

Acting like another person to copy their style or behavior

is a general social habit not mainly about deliberate artistic expression
mimesis
vsmimetism
  • Literature
1 9.9

Making art that copies real life or someone's words

focuses on everyday social following rather than artistic representation
copyism
vsmimetism
9.1

Imitating another person's actions or words instead of behaving independently

focuses on doing this mainly within everyday social interactions
imitativeness
vsmimetism
7.9

A habit of copying other people's actions or style

is a neutral social habit of following others without negative judgment
taqlid
vsmimetism
9.9

Copying the ideas, style, or behavior of someone else

emphasizes a social habit of following others rather than a single copied act
apery
vsmimetism
9.9

Copying someone's actions or words to make fun of them

is a social habit without deliberate ridicule or negative tone

How Imitative

conformity
24 4.8
mimetism
9.9
mimicry
2 4.6
imitation
19 3.0
similarity
157 2.7

Surface Forms

mimetism singular
mimetisms plural

Morphology

mimetism = mimic (semi-transparent) = mimet + ism

Built from the imitation root related to 'mimic' plus '-ism' to indicate a tendency or practice; the general relation is clear but the exact nuance ('social imitation') may not be fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Mimetism comes from the root mim- meaning 'to copy', the same root as mimic. In social life, mimetism is the practice of copying how others dress or speak to fit in.