Pronunciation

How to pronounce “imitation

“imitation” is pronounced /ɪmɪteɪʃən/ — 4 syllables.
The sound

Say “imitation

imitation

/ɪmɪteɪʃən/

Say it right

4 syllables. Stress the 'at' part (say it longer and louder) and let the others relax — unstressed vowels often soften to a lazy /ə/.
Meaning

the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations

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