Pronunciation: [pˈə͡ʊzəz] (IPA) 
The word "posers" is spelled with the letter "s" instead of "z" because it follows the rule of changing -ose to -oser when forming agent nouns (e.g. pose - poser). The phonetic transcription of "posers" is /ˈpoʊzərz/. The stress is on the first syllable, which is pronounced as "pohs," followed by the unstressed "uhz" sound in the second syllable. The "r" sound is also pronounced in both syllables.
Posers refer to individuals who pretend or feign a certain persona or identity, often attempting to present themselves as someone they are not. It is commonly used as a slang term to describe people who try to create a false impression of themselves to gain attention, popularity, or acceptance within a specific social group or community. The behavior of posers typically involves adopting the style, mannerisms, or interests associated with a particular subculture or trend, but without possessing genuine knowledge, experience, or commitment towards it.
Posers often mimic the appearance, behavior, or language of a specific group or community without genuinely understanding or appreciating its values or meaning. They may adopt the clothing style, mannerisms, vocabulary, or even musical tastes associated with a subculture or a group but lack the authenticity or depth of knowledge that truly emboldens such a lifestyle or identity.
While the term "poser" can carry a negative connotation, it is primarily used to describe individuals who are seen as disingenuous or insincere. Posers may face criticism or social ostracism from those who belong to the community or subculture they are trying to emulate. Genuine participants of these cultures often value authenticity and are quick to identify and disapprove of individuals who are perceived as posers for attempting to assimilate superficially.
The term "posers" emerged in the early 19th century, derived from the verb "pose". The verb "pose" hearkens back to the late Middle English period and originally meant "to place in a particular position" or "to lay out", coming from the Old French word "poser" meaning "to put, place, or arrange". It later took on additional meanings such as "to assume a certain attitude or posture" or "to behave affectedly", which influenced the development of the noun form "poseur".
The term "poser" referred to someone who put on airs, affected an artificial attitude, or behaved insincerely for appearances. By the late 19th century, "posers" emerged as a plural form of "poser" to refer to a group of individuals who present themselves as something they are not or adopt a false identity to gain social acceptance or popularity.
