Emulation

/ˌɛmjʊˈleɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The act of imitating or attempting to rival or match someone or something, often out of respect or admiration.

Etymology

From Latin 'aemulatio' (rivalry, competition), this noun entered Middle English around the 13th century and originally emphasized competition, gradually shifting toward the sense of respectful imitation.

Kelly Says

Emulation is the secret fuel of human progress—every innovation from the printing press to the internet succeeded because people emulated successful designs and improved upon them, making it perhaps humanity's most productive impulse.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.