wannabe
/ˈwɒnəbi
/(also wannabee) informal, derogatory
noun
A person who tries to be like someone else or to fit in with a particular group of people: a star-struck wannabe for every success story there are thousands of wannabees who don’t make it...
- These two requirements alone mean that many hopeful wannabes will not even get to first base.
- More than 15,000 wannabes have been waiting in line through the night for their chance at stardom.
- Each of the presidential wannabes is carving out their own signature issue.
adjective
Aspiring or wanting to be a specified type of person: a pair of wannabe pop stars wannabee millionaires...
- A chance encounter with a wannabe do-gooder enables him to open a village dispensary, which he starts to run with his wife.
- Mars One says it will start considering applications from wannabe astronauts from all over the world from 2013.
- One of the most frightening prospects facing any wannabe chef is the frenetic pace of the modern day professional kitchen.
Origin
1970s: representing a pronunciation of want to be.