copy

1 of 2

noun

ˈkä-pē 

plural copies

1

: an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (such as a letter, a painting, a table, or a dress)

2

: one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of an original impression

also : an individual example of such a reproduction

3

archaic : something to be imitated : model

4

a

: matter to be set especially for printing

b

: something considered printable or newsworthy

—used without an article

remarks that make good copy

—Norman Cousins

c

: text especially of an advertisement

5

: duplicate sense 1a

a copy of a computer file

a copy of a gene

copy

2 of 2

verb

copied; copying; copies

transitive verb

1

: to make a copy or duplicate of

copy a document

Please copy and paste the link into your browser.

For players who are holdovers from last year's ballot, I just copied and pasted what I wrote a year ago.

—Dave Cameron

2

: to model oneself on

3

in radio/military communications : to acknowledge receipt of (a message)

The operator of the Titanic was busy figuring his accounts and did not bother to copy the message. A little later in the afternoon, another ship named the Baltic called the Titanic to tell her about icebergs that were in her way.

—Rev. Robert P. Lawrence

intransitive verb

1

: to make a copy

2

: to undergo copying

the map did not copy well

3

in radio/military communications : to acknowledge receipt and understanding of a message

"Block the road with your car. Take no other action. … No resistance, do you copy? Over."

—Stephen King

Synonyms

Noun

• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• dummy
• dupe
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• imitation
• mock
• reduplication
• replica
• replication
• reproduction

Verb

• clone
• copycat
• duplicate
• imitate
• reduplicate
• render
• replicate
• reproduce

Choose the Right Synonym for copy

Noun

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another.

reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details

a replica of the Mayflower

but not always in the same scale.

miniature replicas of classic cars

Verb

copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing.

copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

ape may suggest presumptuous, unoriginal, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Examples of copy in a Sentence

Noun

The novel has sold more than a million copies.

She got a job writing advertising copy.

All copy must be submitted by 5 p.m.

Verb

She copied the design on a piece of paper.

Copy the file to your hard drive.

The bills are designed to prevent copying by counterfeiters.

We caught him copying the answers out of the book.

We caught him copying out of the book.

The speech was copied word for word.

His music was copied widely.

Their competitors soon copied the idea.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Following its release, The Tortured Poets Department sold 1.4 million copies in traditional album sales on its first day, according to initial reports to data tracking firm Luminate. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024

People can go to the Historic Third Ward Association, 525 E. Chicago St., to get a copy of the map. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

Raphael had become so good at imitating Perugino, Cusk tells us, that the copies of his master’s work were indistinguishable from the originals. —Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

When the Final Fantasy 7 Remake came out, millions of copies were sold in just three days. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

By law, the three major credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your file every 12 months. —Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

The journal has sold more than 600,000 copies on TikTok alone, and more than 1 million copies in total, a feat usually accomplished by the Prince Harrys and Colleen Hoovers of the world. —Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024

His home was filled with American books and copies of the New Yorker. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The Fund expects to mail subscription certificates evidencing the Rights and a copy of the prospectus for the Offer to Record Date Stockholders within the United States shortly following the Record Date. —Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024

Verb

Someone might copy Speer’s rig down to the last knob setting, and play his guitar melodies note for note, but without Ochoa and Johnson playing, too, the Khruangbin sound cannot be duplicated. —Ryan Bradley MacLeod Andrews Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The formula is exclusive to Sania’s Brow Bar, but other brands have since copied her angled pencil tip. —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024

But airlines do tend to copy each other in these areas: When one carrier raises fees, others generally follow in a domino effect—like travelers saw happen with baggage fees in early March. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024

At the time, Cash interrupted his interview complaining about her brother copying her. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 23 Mar. 2024

The essence of memes consist of any text (images, video, and the like) that is copied and spread from person to person, typically with the accelerated aid of the internet. —Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

And fraudsters can copy and print multiple washed checks for future use or to sell to other criminals. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024

Advocates for pro-natal policies say the U.S. could copy countries that invest more in childbearing since society has a collective interest in supporting parents, says Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina. —Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2024

What’s notable is that players can copy a blueprint of their base and rebuild it in another part of the world. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English copie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin copia, from Latin, abundance — more at copious

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing copy

• blind carbon copy
• carbon copy
• Chinese copy
• copy and paste
• copy down/out
• copy edit
• copy editor
• copy machine
• fair copy
• good copy
• hard copy
• review copy

Kids Definition

copy

1 of 2 noun

ˈkäp-ē 

plural copies

1

: something that is made to look exactly like something else : duplicate

a copy of a letter

a copy of a painting

2

: one of the total number of books, magazines, or papers printed at one time

3

: written or printed material to be set in type

copy

2 of 2 verb

copied; copying

1

: to make a copy : duplicate

2

: imitate sense 1