1
as in imitator
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way
she prides herself on being an innovator in fashion, and not a mere copyist
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2
as in scribe
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
some scholars argue that the vexing passage reflects a misreading of the text by an early copyist
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Recent Examples of copyist
Copying is part of a long tradition in art history, especially at the Louvre, which has maintained a copyists’ bureau since its founding in 1793.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Material features can also include things like colophons—formulas at the end of a text that attest to its completeness and fidelity and often also include the name of the copyist—doodles in the margins, mistakes and corrections, even handwriting style.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The watercolor was recently rejected by specialists in 2020, who believe the copyist worked from a photograph of the work that was first published in 1904.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
In an effort to thwart copyists, together these purist designers showed after the scheduled Fashion Week—and this was back when editors were still sailing to Paris from New York.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
As befits an artist who began her career working as a music copyist for famed Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, one of her key early mentors, Schneider composes with such skill, verve and clarity that her orchestra becomes a unique instrument of her own making.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2023
As previously announced, the 2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist, Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 May 2022
But her intention has been to draw inspiration and insight from each, without being a copyist.
—Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022
Grishman is a music copyist for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater, who works closely with composers, orchestrators and players.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2022
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Material features can also include things like colophons—formulas at the end of a text that attest to its completeness and fidelity and often also include the name of the copyist—doodles in the margins, mistakes and corrections, even handwriting style.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The watercolor was recently rejected by specialists in 2020, who believe the copyist worked from a photograph of the work that was first published in 1904.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
In an effort to thwart copyists, together these purist designers showed after the scheduled Fashion Week—and this was back when editors were still sailing to Paris from New York.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
As befits an artist who began her career working as a music copyist for famed Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, one of her key early mentors, Schneider composes with such skill, verve and clarity that her orchestra becomes a unique instrument of her own making.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2023
As previously announced, the 2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist, Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 May 2022
But her intention has been to draw inspiration and insight from each, without being a copyist.
—Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022
Grishman is a music copyist for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater, who works closely with composers, orchestrators and players.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copyist
Noun
-
The former added that her favorite part so far is having a pack made up entirely of returning scribes.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
-
Piani, who also wrote the screenplay, includes moments of the scribe at work — that is to say procrastinating, ruminating and occasionally disassociating from the terror of the blank page.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
What began as an intimate connection with fans has ballooned to 7.5 million followers between Instagram and TikTok.—
Xian Horn,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Jussie Smollett proposed to boyfriend Jabari Redd this weekend, bringing the good news to his followers via social media.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
The whole saga has echoes of what happened last year with Ter Stegen’s former team-mate Ilkay Gundogan.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
-
With echoes of its ground-shifting Breaking2 marathon project, Nike’s Breaking4 is building not only toward a finish line - but toward a shift in perception, visibility, and belief around women’s athletic potential.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Copyist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copyist. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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