An impersonator is someone who copies another person's voice, mannerisms, and appearance to pretend to be that person. Professional impersonators study how celebrities walk, talk, and gesture, then perform as those famous people at parties, shows, or on television. You might see an Elvis impersonator at a county fair, complete with jumpsuit, sunglasses, and signature hip moves.

The word comes from impersonate, which means to pretend to be someone else. Some impersonators do it for entertainment, making audiences laugh by exaggerating a politician's quirks or a movie star's catchphrases. Others practice impersonation as a serious art, capturing not just how someone looks but their entire personality and style.

While stage impersonators provide harmless fun, the word can have a darker meaning when someone impersonates another person to deceive or defraud. A criminal might impersonate a police officer or impersonate someone online to trick people. This kind of impersonation is illegal because it involves lying about who you are for dishonest purposes. The difference is intent: impersonators who perform onstage make it clear they're putting on a show, while dishonest impersonators try to convince people they're actually someone else.