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Doppelgänger, n.

Pronunciation: ˈdäpəlˌɡaNGər

Meaning: Refers to an apparition or a double of a living person. It is usually a reference to a non-biologically related look-alike or double of a living person. The term comes from German, meaning “double walker.” In folklore and fiction, a doppelgänger is often considered a harbinger of bad luck or an uncanny twin, though in modern usage it can simply refer to someone who closely resembles another in appearance.

Usage:

• “After moving to a new city, Maria was startled when strangers greeted her by a different name — apparently, she had a doppelgänger living just a few blocks away.”
• “The actor was amused when fans kept sending him photos of his doppelgänger: a baker from Italy who looked exactly like him.”
• “In mythology, seeing your doppelgänger was believed to be an omen of death or disaster.”