Imposter vs Impostor Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on imposter vs impostor. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
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A person who pretends to be someone else to deceive. The traditional spelling.
“The impostor posed as a doctor.”
The same meaning, spelled with -er. A common variant.
“The imposter fooled the entire office.”
Feeling like a fraud despite real achievements.
“She struggled with impostor syndrome after her promotion.”
The act of deceiving by pretending to be someone else.
“His imposture lasted for years.”
Imposter vs impostor is a spelling question that trips up writers, students and editors alike. Both versions appear in books, news stories and everyday writing, and they sound exactly the same. This guide explains where each spelling comes from, which one to choose, and how to avoid the mistakes that actually count.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impostor | A person who pretends to be someone else to deceive others | Noun (traditional spelling) | The impostor posed as the new manager. |
| Imposter | The same meaning as impostor | Noun (variant spelling) | The imposter slipped into the party unnoticed. |
| Impostor syndrome | Persistent self-doubt and feeling like a fraud despite success | Noun phrase (psychology) | Impostor syndrome affects many high achievers. |
| Imposture | The act of pretending to be someone else to deceive | Noun (the deception itself) | His imposture was finally exposed. |
Is it imposter or impostor?
Both are used, and they mean exactly the same thing. Most dictionaries list impostor as the main spelling and treat imposter as an accepted variant. In formal or edited writing, impostor is the safer choice.
Neither spelling is a mistake. The difference is one of tradition and style, not meaning, so there is no separate definition to learn.
What does impostor mean?
An impostor is a person who pretends to be someone else, or to hold a position they don’t hold, in order to deceive others. The word comes from Latin impostor, from imponere, meaning “to impose upon” or “to deceive.”
The ending -or follows the same pattern as other Latin-derived agent nouns such as actor and doctor. That is one reason the -or spelling is considered the traditional form.
- “The impostor claimed to be a government inspector.”
- “Police arrested an impostor who had been working at the hospital.”
What does imposter mean?
Imposter has the same meaning as impostor. It is a variant spelling that follows the common English -er pattern, as in poster or trader, and you will see it often in casual writing, headlines and social media.
- “The imposter fooled everyone at the front desk.”
- “Online reviews flagged the seller as an imposter.”
What is the difference between imposter vs impostor?
There is no difference in meaning, only in spelling. Impostor is the traditional form favoured in formal writing, and imposter is a common variant. Both refer to someone who pretends to be somebody they are not.
- Choose impostor for formal, academic, legal or edited writing.
- Accept imposter in casual writing, but keep it consistent with the rest of your text.
- Follow your style guide if you have one, and stick to its choice.
Is it imposter syndrome or impostor syndrome?
Both spellings appear. Impostor syndrome is the form closer to the original psychology term, the “impostor phenomenon,” which psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described in 1978. Imposter syndrome is very common in popular writing.
If you are writing for an academic or professional audience, use impostor. In casual articles, imposter will not look out of place, as long as you use one spelling throughout.
Which spelling does Among Us use?
The game Among Us uses Impostor for its deceptive players. If you are writing about the game, match the spelling used in the game itself rather than switching to imposter.
What are common mistakes with imposter vs impostor?
Because both spellings are accepted, the real mistakes are inconsistent spelling and nearby words that look similar. Watch for these pairs.
- ✗ The police arrested the imposture who posed as a doctor.
✓ The police arrested the impostor who posed as a doctor. - ✗ He was accused of imposter after faking his credentials.
✓ He was accused of imposture after faking his credentials. - ✗ Our guide uses imposter in the headline and impostor in the text.
✓ Our guide uses impostor in the headline and in the text. - ✗ He is an imposition who pretended to be a lawyer.
✓ He is an impostor who pretended to be a lawyer. - ✗ The real impostur was finally caught.
✓ The real impostor was finally caught.
How can you remember which one to use?
Three simple hooks make the choice easy.
- Impostor ends in -or, like actor. An impostor is someone acting a part.
- Formal writing, -or. Casual writing, either. When in doubt, choose impostor.
- Pick one and stay consistent. Mixing both spellings in a single page is the only real error.
Imposter vs Impostor FAQ
Is it imposter or impostor?
Both are correct. Impostor is the traditional spelling listed first in most dictionaries, and imposter is a widely used variant. They mean the same thing.
Is it imposter syndrome or impostor syndrome?
Both are used. Impostor syndrome is closer to the original psychology term, the impostor phenomenon described in 1978, while imposter syndrome is common in everyday writing.
What is the difference between an impostor and imposture?
An impostor is the person who pretends to be someone else. Imposture is the act of deception itself.
Which spelling does Among Us use?
The game Among Us uses the spelling Impostor. When writing about the game, use the same spelling.
Which spelling should I use in formal writing?
Use impostor. It is the traditional spelling that most dictionaries list first, and it is the safer choice for academic, legal and professional writing.
Conclusion
The imposter vs impostor question has a relaxed answer: both spellings are accepted, but impostor is the traditional choice and the safer one in formal writing. Whichever you pick, keep it consistent. Share this with someone who mixes these up.