mimesis

M3I1M3E1S1I1S1
/mɪˈmiːsɪs//məˈmiːsɪs//ˌmaɪˈmiːsɪs/

noun

The representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions, in literature and art.

OriginAncient Greek μῑ́μησις →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounmimesis (countable and uncountable, plural mimeses)

plural mimeses

  1. countableuncountableThe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions, in literature and art.
  2. countableuncountablebiologyMimicry.
  3. countableuncountablemedicineThe appearance of symptoms of a disease not actually present.
  4. countablerhetoricuncountableThe rhetorical pedagogy of imitation.
  5. countablerhetoricuncountableThe imitation of another's gestures, pronunciation, or utterance.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
onomatopoeia

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμῑ́μησις
  2. Englishmimesis

From Ancient Greek μῑ́μησις (mī́mēsis), from μιμεῖσθαι (mimeîsthai, “to imitate”), from μῖμος (mîmos, “a mime”). By surface analysis, mime + -esis.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian мимезис
  • мимезис (mimezis)the representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
Catalan mimesi
  • mimesithe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
Czech napodobení, znázornění
  • napodobeníthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • znázorněníthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • nápodobathe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
French mimèse, mimèsis
  • mimèsethe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • mimèsisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
German Mimesis
  • Mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
Italian mimesi, mimesis
  • mimesithe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
Polish mimesis, naśladowanie
  • mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • naśladowaniemimicry
  • naśladownictwomimicry
Spanish mimesis, mímesis
  • mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • mímesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
  • mímesismimicry
  • mimesismimicry
Tagalog gagad
  • gagadthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions
Turkish mimesis
  • mimesisthe representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with mimesis

thesiskinesiscytokinesisdiuresisarthrodesisnatriuresisdiaphoresisanuresisascesisathetesisautonoesisbiokinesiscryokinesis-desisdiegesisepithesisparasympathomimesispedesispleurodesisschesissympathomimesissyndesissynizesistmesis
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

mimesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mimesis

MLA

“mimesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mimesis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mimesis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mimesis.

Source: mimesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.