wannabe

[won-uh-bee, waw-nuh‐] /ˈwɒn əˌbi, ˈwɔ nə‐/
noun, plural wannabes. Informal.
1.
one who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another's success or attain eminence in some area.
Origin
1980-85; derivative of (I) wanna be…
British Dictionary definitions for wannabe

wannabe

/ˈwɒnəˌbiː/
noun
1.
(informal)
  1. a person who desires to be, or be like, someone or something else: a group of Marilyn Monroe wannabes
  2. (as modifier): a wannabe film star
Word Origin
C20: phonetic shortening of want to be
Word Origin and History for wannabe
n.

1981, originally American English surfer slang, from casual pronunciation of want to be; popularized c.1984 in reference to female fans of pop singer Madonna.

Slang definitions & phrases for wannabe

wannabe

noun

Someone who aspires to be someone else, esp a star or hero: Rambo Wanna-be's/ A ''poser'' or a ''wanta be'' is someone who tries to be like someone else

[1980s+ California surfers & black street gangs; fr imprecise or dialectal pronunciation of ''want to be'']