look-alike
UK: ˈlʊkəlaɪk | US: ˈlʊkəˌlaɪk
n. a person or thing that closely resembles another in appearance
n. (by extension) something designed to imitate or mimic another thing
The term "look-alike" is a compound word formed in Modern English by combining "look" (from Old English lōcian, meaning "to see or observe") and "alike" (from Old English onlīc, meaning "similar"). The word emerged in the early 20th century to describe people or objects that bear a striking resemblance to others. The logic is straightforward: if two things "look alike," they appear similar. This compound structure preserves the original meanings of both components while creating a new, specific term for visual resemblance.
The celebrity hired a look-alike to attend events when she was unavailable.
The museum displayed a look-alike of the famous painting for educational purposes.
Many people mistake her for her look-alike cousin.
The robot was designed as a perfect look-alike of its human creator.
The counterfeit product was a convincing look-alike of the original brand.