# mimetic desire

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A desire that is imitative, and not related to the desired object's intrinsic value, based on the idea that human desires arise from imitation and competitive behavior in groups.

## Etymology
Coined by French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science René Girard in 1961.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mimetic-desire