Imposterous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Acting in a deceptive way by pretending to be someone one is not, for the purpose of fraud
2. Characterized by fraud or trickery, especially through falsely claiming a false identity or false credentials
3. Describing conduct that misleads others by impersonation or pretense in order to gain an unfair advantage

Etymology: "Imposterous" is simply "impostor" with the adjective-forming suffix "-ous" attached, the same ending found in "famous" or "monstrous." The result is a word meaning having the character of an impostor, or deceptive in the manner of one. "Impostor" itself came into English from French "imposteur," which traces back to Latin "impostor," meaning a deceiver or cheat, formed from "imponere," to impose or put upon someone. The noun is the older and more widely used of the two forms, so "imposterous" reads as a derivative built on a familiar base rather than an independent term. Because the suffix is productive, English speakers can attach "-ous" to a noun like this whenever they want an adjective describing conduct that resembles that noun.

Synonyms: deceptive, fraudulent, deceitful

Antonyms: honest, genuine