copy

American  

[kop-ee] / ˈkɒp i /

noun

copies plural

1. an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original.

   a copy of a famous painting.

   Synonyms:

   facsimile, carbon, duplicate

2. one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.

3. written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form.

   The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.

4. the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.

5. the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often preceded by good orbad ).

   The president is always good copy.

6. Computers. an exact duplicate of a file, program, etc..

   Keep a backup copy of the document.

7. Genetics. replication.

8. Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.

9. British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.

10. British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).

11. Archaic. something that is to be reproduced; an example or pattern, as of penmanship to be copied by a pupil.

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verb (used with object)

copies, present (3rd person singular) copied, past participle, past copying present participle

1. to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce.

   to copy a set of figures from a book.

2. to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).

3. to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.

   Antonyms:

   originate

4. Computers. to make an exact duplicate of (a file, selected text, etc.) and store in another location or in temporary memory.

   Can I copy the program to another computer? Copy the selected paragraph to the clipboard.

verb (used without object)

copies, present (3rd person singular) copied, past participle, past copying present participle

1. to make a copy or copies.

2. to undergo copying.

   It copied poorly.

   I can't install the program—one file won't copy.

3. to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio.

   Do you copy?

4. Newfoundland. Also to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.

idioms

1. copy the mail, mail.

copy British  

/ ˈkɒpɪ /

noun

1. an imitation or reproduction of an original

2. a single specimen of something that occurs in a multiple edition, such as a book, article, etc

3. 1. matter to be reproduced in print

   2. written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc

4. the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement

5. informal journalism suitable material for an article or story

   disasters are always good copy

6. archaic a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship

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verb

1. to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)

2. (tr) to imitate as a model

3. (intr) to imitate unfairly

Synonym Usage

See imitate.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precopy
  noun
• recopy
  verb (used with object)
• well-copied
  adjective
• uncopied
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• copies
  plural

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have copied
  perfect
• has copied
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am copying
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been copying
  perfect progressive
• has been copying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• copying
  participle
• are copying
  progressive
• is copying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• copies
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had copied
  perfect
• had been copying
  perfect progressive
• were copying
  progressive plural
• copied
  participle
• was copying
  progressive singular
• copied
  simple

Future

• will copy
  simple
• will have copied
  perfect
• will have been copying
  perfect progressive
• will be copying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of copy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English copie (from Anglo-French ) from Medieval Latin cōpia “abundance, something copied,” Latin: “wealth, abundance”; see copious; copy ( def. 18 ) originally a children's game, from the phrase copy the leader

Explanation

A copy is a reproduction of something — it looks identical to the original. You might ask your sister to make a copy of your nephew's adorable painting so you can hang it on your fridge. You can use the word copy in several different ways. Your doctor's office may keep a copy of your insurance card on file, and they may copy it again every year. This verb form of copy means "to replicate or reproduce." You can also copy down what your teacher says in class — in this case, you're not making an identical copy, but writing the basic ideas. The Medieval Latin root, copia, "reproduction or transcript," comes from the Latin word copia, "plenty."

Example Sentences

In June 2024, Russia's Litfond auction house listed in its catalogue a second edition of Pushkin's "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", a book corresponding to a copy stolen from the BnF.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

SpaceX also posted a copy of its roadshow slide deck, which executives can be expected to use over the coming days to persuade investors to participate in its IPO.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

But the second batch of documents published on Thursday did not contain a copy of Lord Mandelson's vetting form.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

A few months ago I found a paperback copy of George Orwell’s “1984” on a city bus.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

Eisman obtained a copy; its contents confirmed his worst suspicions.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• image
• model
• photocopy
• photograph
• portrait
• print
• replica
• reproduction
• transcript
• type