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
Michael Wilson… the department invests in officers and their futures by providing training that makes them better cops.—Laura Lane
Laura Lane
copped; copping
3
: adopt sense 2
cop an attitude
slang
: admit sense 2b
—used with to
these small-timers would … cop to the smallest offense their attorney could negotiate—Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
plural cops
1
copper
2
copulative
3
copy
4
copyright
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
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025
Since then, articles are popping up, pointing out that people have a right to ask questions before just assuming that guy with the badge is really a cop.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
But the government did not cop on the document to their role in his death.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cop
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Noun
Medics took both victims to Bellevue Hospital Center in stable condition, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025
Since then, articles are popping up, pointing out that people have a right to ask questions before just assuming that guy with the badge is really a cop.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Verb
The majority sees no problem in executing someone whose co-defendant might have been more culpable but was smart enough to cop a deal to elude the death penalty.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
But the government did not cop on the document to their role in his death.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cop
Cite this Entry
“Cop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cop. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cop
1 of 2 verb
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
Etymology
Verb
probably from Dutch kapen "to steal"
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