Mimetic

Mimetic is an adjective describing something related to imitation or mimicry. The term derives from Latin mimeticus, itself from Greek mimētikos, from mimein “to imitate.” In general usage, it marks phenomena that imitate, resemble, or simulate another thing.

In arts and aesthetics, mimetic refers to mimesis—the representation or imitation of the real world in art. Aristotle introduced the concept of mimesis in his Poetics, where tragedy and epic imitate life. In modern criticism, mimetic approaches analyze how works replicate social realities, cultural norms, or bodily experiences.

In philosophy and social theory, mimetic theory, associated most prominently with René Girard, posits that desire is imitative: individuals desire what others desire, leading to rivalry and conflict; communities may resolve tension through scapegoating. The term “mimetic” in this context concerns the dynamics of imitation among persons and groups rather than mere copying.

In biology, “mimetic” is used to describe mimicry, where organisms imitate other species or objects to gain protection or advantage. Examples include Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a harmful one, and Müllerian mimicry, where several harmful species resemble each other. The term also appears in linguistics in the form of ideophones or mimetic words that phonomorphically imitate sounds or actions.

Because “mimetic” spans fields, its precise meaning depends on context, ranging from practical imitation in art to theoretical explanations of desire, to biological and linguistic mimicry. The related noun mimesis denotes the act or process of imitation.