cop

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkäp 

plural cops

informal

: police officer

They called the cops to report a robbery.

As he awaits trial, the retired cop is on the other side of the law.

—Michael Wilson

… the department invests in officers and their futures by providing training that makes them better cops.

—Laura Lane

cop

2 of 4

verb

copped; copping

transitive verb

1

slang : to get hold of : catch, capture

also : purchase

2

slang : steal, swipe

3

: adopt sense 2

cop an attitude

intransitive verb

slang : admit sense 2b

—used with to

these small-timers would … cop to the smallest offense their attorney could negotiate

—Tom Clancy

cop

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural cops

1

: a cylindrical or conical mass of thread, yarn, or roving wound on a quill or tube

a cop of yarn

also : a quill or tube upon which it is wound

2

archaic, dialectal, chiefly England : top, crest

cop

4 of 4

abbreviation

1

copper

2

copulative

3

copy

4

copyright

Phrases

cop a plea

: to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid standing trial for a more serious one

broadly : to admit fault and plead for mercy

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bobby [British]
• bull [slang]
• constable [chiefly British]
• copper
• flatfoot [slang]
• fuzz
• gendarme
• lawman
• officer
• police officer
• policeman
• shamus [slang]

Verb

• buy
• pick up
• purchase
• take

Examples of cop in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a cop stopped her for speeding

Verb

I managed to cop an invitation.

He copped the idea from me.

They expected me to cop all the blame!

He copped the full force of the blow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But almost immediately, the cops were out in force to shut things down. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 16 May 2024

The cops then arrested and charged Cummings, who reportedly has a lengthy rap sheet with more than 20 prior arrests, according to the New York Post. —Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 12 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for copper entry 3

Verb

perhaps from Dutch kapen to steal, from Frisian kāpia to buy; akin to Old High German kouf trade — more at cheap entry 3

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English copp

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1859, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1704, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing cop

• cop a feel
• cop an attitude
• cop a plea
• cop hold of
• cop it
• cop off with
• cop out
• cop shop
• cop to
• it's a fair cop
• not much cop
• rent-a-cop
• traffic cop

Kids Definition

cop

1 of 2 verb

ˈkäp 

copped; copping

1

slang : to get hold of : capture entry 2 sense 1a

2

slang : steal entry 1 sense 2a

3

: adopt sense 2

cop an attitude

cop

2 of 2 noun

informal

: police officer

Etymology

Verb

probably from Dutch kapen "to steal"