copycat

1 of 2

noun

copy·​cat ˈkä-pē-ˌkat How to pronounce copycat (audio)
often attributive
Synonyms of copycatnext
1
: one who imitates or adopts the behavior or practices of another
2
: an imitative act or product
copycat board games

copycat

2 of 2

verb

copycatted; copycatting

intransitive verb

: to act as a copycat

Examples of copycat in a Sentence

Noun She called me a copycat for wearing the same dress. every rock singer who makes it big soon has a whole cluster of copycats Verb asked her stylist to copycat a hairstyle from the magazine a performer who slavishly copycats another never rises to the level of true stardom
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There's always the risk of a copycat. Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025 The source said the growing prevalence of lone actors and sleeper cells poses a significant challenge to Western security services, as individuals with minimal resources can still carry out deadly attacks and trigger copycat violence. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
Besides being the perfect Hallmark movie marathon snack, this flavor adds a holiday spin to copycat milkshakes and alongside favorite desserts. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025 But factors including insurance coverage, pricing, copycat drugs and the development of new pills will ultimately determine how far the treatments will reach. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for copycat

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of copycat was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Copycat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copycat. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

copycat

noun
copy·​cat
ˈkäp-ē-ˌkat
: one who imitates or adopts the behavior or practices of another
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!