copy editor

noun

variants: or less commonly copyeditor play \ˈkä-pē-ˌe-də-tər\

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of copy editor

1 : an editor who prepares copy for the typesetter

2 : one who edits and headlines newspaper copy

—

copyedit

play \ˈkä-pē-ˌe-dət\ or copy edit transitive verb

See copy editor defined for English-language learners

See copy editor defined for kids

Recent Examples of copy editor from the Web

In 2012, the Post laid off two-thirds of its copy editors.

— dan gartland, SI.com, "Denver Post’s ‘Ultimate Visitors Guide to Coors Field’ Features Photo of Citizens Bank Park," 6 Apr. 2018
Next door, Mary Lynne Vellinga, communications director for Mayor Darrell Steinberg, and her husband Tim Kirn, who is a copy editor at The Bee, got inspired, too.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "On this tour, neighbors go native and take it easy | The Sacramento Bee," 6 Apr. 2018
Farris covered features, sports and news, worked as a copy editor, and then spent three years as a city government reporter before covering the court system.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Trueman Farris was longtime Milwaukee Sentinel reporter, editor," 3 Apr. 2018
Reporters aren’t the only ones who need copy editors.

— eli rosenberg, Washington Post, "‘State of the Uniom’: Misspelled tickets to President Trump’s first address require a reprint," 29 Jan. 2018
His mother, Gladys, worked as a copy editor at the New York Times.

— howie kahn, WSJ, "Anthony Bourdain’s Globalist Mission," 28 Mar. 2018
Audrey, who serves as the magazine's copy editor, said the teens are aware of the magnitude of the national debate unfolding on school safety.

— mandy mclaren, The Courier-Journal, "Angry and impassioned, JCPS students headed to Washington for gun control march," 19 Mar. 2018
This week’s contestant is copy editor Dawnthea Price.

— ray hamel, Slate Magazine, "Slate News Quiz," 2 Feb. 2018
Carolyn Hax started her advice column in 1997, after five years as a copy editor and news editor at The Washington Post and none as a therapist.

— author: carolyn hax, Anchorage Daily News, "Carolyn Hax: Tips for a tired and frustrated stay-at-home mom," 18 Feb. 2018

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

First Known Use of copy editor

1899

COPY EDITOR Defined for English Language Learners

copy editor

noun

Definition of copy editor for English Language Learners

: a person whose job is to prepare a book, newspaper, etc., for printing by making sure the words are correct

Seen and Heard

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copy editor

Definition of copy editor

copyedit

Recent Examples of copy editor from the Web

First Known Use of copy editor

COPY EDITOR Defined for English Language Learners

copy editor

Definition of copy editor for English Language Learners

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copy editor

Definition of copy editor

copyedit

Recent Examples of copy editor from the Web

First Known Use of copy editor

COPY EDITOR Defined for English Language Learners

copy editor

Definition of copy editor for English Language Learners

Seen and Heard

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