lookalike

lookalike — noun

1. a person or thing that closely matches the appearance of another — for instance,

1.nounB1
Definition

a person or thing that closely matches the appearance of another — for instance, someone who looks just like a famous person, or an inexpensive product made to copy a luxury design.

Example

A Charlie Chaplin lookalike entertained the crowd at the festival.

compound noun: celebrity lookalike + name

Dahlia bought a designer lookalike handbag for a fraction of the original price.

pattern: designer lookalike [product]

Common collocations
  • celebrity lookalike
  • lookalike contest
  • designer lookalike
  • lookalike version
  • dead ringer (informal synonym)
Synonyms
  • double

    very close match, especially of a person; slightly more formal

  • clone

    suggests an exact, possibly technical or genetic copy; more informal when used of people

  • impersonator

    specifically a person who performs as a celebrity, not just someone who looks similar

  • replica

    used for objects, not people; suggests a careful copy of something valuable

Antonyms
  • original

    the authentic person or thing that the lookalike resembles

Grammar Patterns

lookalike + of [person/thing]

celebrity lookalike

lookalike + noun (modifier)

Usage Note

Often used in compound noun phrases with a celebrity name (e.g. 'Elvis lookalike', 'Marilyn Monroe lookalike') to describe impersonators. For objects, 'lookalike' can describe imitation products — use 'knockoff' for a more informal or critical tone.

Common Mistakes

He is my lookalike brother.
He is my lookalike; we could be twins.
'lookalike' is a noun, not an adjective; do not place it before another noun as if it described a relationship.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Lookalike' is the most general of these words and can refer to people or objects. A 'double' is nearly always a person who bears an uncanny resemblance to another person, often used in formal contexts (e.g. 'the president's body double'). 'Clone' suggests an exact copy created through technical means — using it for a person is informal and exaggerated. 'Impersonator' specifically describes someone who performs as a celebrity, not just someone who happens to look like them. 'Replica' applies to objects only, emphasising careful reproduction of details. For example: the street performer was a passable Elvis lookalike, but a professional impersonator would have cost far more. The vase in the window was such a perfect replica that even the museum curator had to look twice.

double ↗clone ↗impersonatorreplica ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • lookalike contest
  • dead ringer for

Prepositions

  • lookalike of

Etymology

EnglishAmerican English

A compound word formed from 'look' (to see or appear) and 'alike' (similar), first recorded in the 1930s in American English. It was popularised through show business, where lookalikes of film stars were hired for publicity or performance.