wannabe

Meaning: a person who wants to be the type of person they admire, or part of a group or class of people they admire

For example:

Surfer wannabes dress and act like surfers even though they don't often go to the beach, and can't surf very well.
Los Angeles is full of wannabe actors who dream of becoming movie stars even though they have little talent and little chance of getting work.

Note: can also be used as an adjective (see the second example sentence above)

Origin: derived from pronouncing "want to be" as if it were one single word

Quick Quiz:

Marcie is a wannabe singer, and she's

releasing her second album soon
hoping to perform in a talent contest
just done another big concert tour

Discuss: wannabe

Slang of the Day

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Slang/W