copy editor

noun

variants or less commonly copyeditor

ˈkä-pē-ˌe-də-tər 

1

: an editor who prepares copy for the typesetter

2

: one who edits and headlines newspaper copy

copyedit

ˈkä-pē-ˌe-dət 

transitive verb

or copy edit

Examples of copy editor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thanks to the shrinking publishing industry and dwindling writerly job market, the internet is rife with smart freelance editors, rigorous copy editors, and award-winning authors moonlighting as book doulas. — Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026

Our recipe copy editors are the last word on the specifics of our recipe language. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026

There was one entry that stuck out to me as someone who has been a copy editor for essentially her whole career. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 20 June 2026

What, did a copy editor write this? — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for copy editor

• coeditor
• creditor
• predator

Kids Definition

copy editor

noun

1

: an employee of a publishing house who corrects manuscript copy

2

: a person who edits and writes headlines for newspaper copy

copyedit

ˈkäp-ē-ˌed-ət 

verb