cop

1 of 2

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 2

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

Synonyms of cop

Noun (1)

• policeman
• officer
• constable

Examples of cop in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a cop stopped her for speeding

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Dallas Police Department has released body-camera footage and in-car video that shows a suspect escape from his handcuffs and drive off in a cop car as an officer in the back seat tries to stop him. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026

Some of Hollywood’s most theatrical scandals were efficiently contained by press agents who nurtured their clout with cops and columnists alike. —Peter Bart, Deadline, 4 June 2026

He was charged the following week with manslaughter, which according to the police union is the first time a city cop has faced criminal charges for an on-duty death in decades. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026

The cops had to provide traffic help. —Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for copper entry 3

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English copp

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1858, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for cop

• bop
• chop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op
• plop

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"