copy

noun \ ˈkä-pē \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of copy

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 1a

a copy of a computer file

a copy of a gene

See copy defined for English-language learners

See copy defined for kids

Examples of copy in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of copy from the Web

Davis declined to provide details of the letters, but the Baltimore Sun, which first reported the documents, published a copy of one allegedly sent to the law office of the Capital Gazette's former attorney.

— NBC News, "Capital Gazette shooting suspect sent chilling letters before newsroom massacre: police," 3 July 2018
Che Guevara carried a copy of Canto general with him in the Sierra Maestra.

— benjamin kunkel, The New Republic, "The partisan world of Pablo Neruda," 2 July 2018
Tickets are required and include a copy of the book.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 29 June 2018
Over 650 employees signed the letter, according to Bloomberg and Buzzfeed, which obtained a copy.

— ryan suppe, USA TODAY, "Salesforce employees ask CEO to reconsider contract with border protection agency," 26 June 2018
So outreach teams prioritize helping clients obtain copies.

— zoie matthew, Los Angeles Magazine, "Here’s What’s Being Done to End L.A.’s Homelessness Crisis," 14 June 2018
The quotas for inmate disciplinary reports at the Brazoria lock-up came to light in mid-May after the Houston Chronicle obtained copies of an email from Capt.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Texas prisons: More than 500 inmate disciplinary cases tossed after quotas investigation," 11 June 2018
But Insider Louisville’s Joe Sonka, who first reported that Thayer was on the London trip, later obtained a copy of Thayer’s request to take the trip from the Senate leadership office and posted it on his Twitter account.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky senator was on trip at center of FBI's probe of Ohio speaker," 5 June 2018
The quota for writing inmate disciplinary reports came to light in mid-May after the Houston Chronicle obtained copies of an email from Capt.

— keri blakinger, San Antonio Express-News, "4 Texas prison guards fired, major resigns after allegedly planting evidence in cell," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'copy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of copy

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

copy Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

archetype, original, prototype;

miniature, mock-up, simulation;

reconstruction, re-creation;

image, likeness, semblance, shadow;

impression, imprint, print;

approximation, reincarnation, version;

extra, reserve, spare;

Synonym Discussion of copy

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

copy

verb

Definition of copy

copied; copying

transitive verb

1 : to make a copy or duplicate of

copy a document

copy a computer file

2 : to model oneself on

intransitive verb

1 : to make a copy

2 : to undergo copying

the map did not copy well

See copy defined for English-language learners

Examples of copy in a Sentence

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 of copy from the Web

Anice first instructed us to copy a few of her simple movements—like reaching our hands to the sky one by one, or slowly sinking into a squat on the beat—according to the rhythm of the drums in the background.

— tiffany dodson, SELF, "Afro Flow Yoga Helped Me Connect to the Rhythm of My Ancestors and View Fitness in a New Way," 1 July 2018
Once your files are copied over, hit the Start button on the RetroPie’s gamepad, go to Quit, and restart the system to refresh everything.

— andrew cunningham, Ars Technica, "Guidemaster: One-upping the NES Classic Edition with the Raspberry Pi 3 and RetroPie," 30 June 2018
In it, four Nigerian researchers presented data copied from a paper by the German researcher as their own.

— linda nordling, Science | AAAS, "In Nigeria, a battle against academic plagiarism heats up," 27 June 2018
These petitions really should be viewed as a last resort, due to the legal, mailing, and copying cost involved.

— kelly g. richardson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "HOA Homefront: What you need to know before amending CC&Rs," 16 June 2018
At the bottom is an enzyme that in nature helps copy DNA.

— kyle peterson, WSJ, "Cracking the Code of Life—at Light Speed," 27 Apr. 2018
This format has since been copied on Twitter by brands like Netflix and celebrities like Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, and Mindy Kaling.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "If You Can’t Handle This Headline, You Don’t Deserve This Article," 13 Apr. 2018
He was also obsessed with his figure, and his kooky ideas on nutrition (only bread and tea some days, only vegetables and wine on others) were copied by aristocratic women across Europe, becoming the first society fad diet.

— ben widdicombe, Town & Country, "An Unofficial History of Rich Women and Their Diets," 10 Apr. 2018
The letter was sent Feb. 17 and was copied to Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Council members Shirley Gonzales of District 5 and Roberto Treviño of District 1, as well as the Westside Development Corp. and the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center.

— elaine ayala, San Antonio Express-News, "West Side murals erased by building’s new owner," 26 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of copy

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

copy Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of copy

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, slavish, 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

COPY Defined for English Language Learners

copy

noun

Definition of copy for English Language Learners

: something that is or looks exactly or almost exactly like something else : a version of something that is identical or almost identical to the original
: one of the many books, magazines, albums, DVDs, etc., that are exactly the same and are produced to be sold or given to the public
: written information that is to be published in a newspaper, magazine, etc.

copy

verb

Definition of copy for English Language Learners

: to make a version of (something) that is exactly or almost exactly like the original : to make a copy or duplicate of (something)
: to write (something) down exactly as it appears somewhere else
: to use (someone else's words or ideas) as your own

COPY Defined for Kids

copy

noun \ ˈkä-pē \

Definition of copy for Students

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

She owns a copy of a popular atlas.

3 : written material to be published

copy

verb

Definition of copy for Students

copied; copying

1 : to make a duplicate of

2 : imitate 1

Synonym Discussion of copy

copy, imitate, and mimic mean to make something so that it resembles something else. copy means trying to duplicate a thing as much as possible.

- Copy this drawing exactly.

imitate means that a person uses something as an example but does not try to make an exact copy.

- They imitated the actions of their parents.

mimic means carefully copying something (as a person's voice) often for the purpose of making fun of it.

- The comedian mimicked a popular singer.

Learn More about copy

See words that rhyme with copy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for copy Spanish Central: Translation of copy Nglish: Translation of copy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of copy for Arabic speakers

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copy

Definition of copy

Examples of copy in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of copy

copy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of copy

copy

Definition of copy

Examples of copy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of copy from the Web

First Known Use of copy

copy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Phrases Related to COPY

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COPY Defined for English Language Learners

copy

Definition of copy for English Language Learners

copy

Definition of copy for English Language Learners

COPY Defined for Kids

copy

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copy

Definition of copy for Students

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