Word
imposter syndrome
Meanings
A persistent feeling of being a fraud despite real achievements, often accompanied by fear of being exposed as not competent.
Definition
Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you don’t deserve your achievements and might be exposed as a fraud.
Imposter syndrome is a pattern of self-doubt in which capable people believe their success is due to luck or deception rather than skill. Even with clear evidence of competence, they may fear being “found out.” It often appears during new roles, high expectations, or increased visibility, and it can affect confidence and performance.
Examples
- I struggled with imposter syndrome after my promotion, even though my previous projects had gone well.
- She named her imposter syndrome in therapy and started tracking evidence of her competence.
- They faced imposter syndrome when they joined a team of experts and felt unusually self-conscious in meetings.
- He recognized his imposter syndrome before the conference talk and practiced focusing on what he actually knew.
- You might notice imposter syndrome peaking when your work becomes more visible and feedback feels high-stakes.
Common mistake
Learners often misspell it as “imposter symdrome” or write “impostor syndrome” inconsistently within the same text.
More at C1 level
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