copycat

[ kop-ee-kat ]

noun

1. a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of another, as a child who says or does exactly the same as another child.

adjective

1. imitating or repeating a recent, well-known occurrence:

   a copycat murder.

verb (used with object)

, cop·y·cat·ted, cop·y·cat·ting.

1. to imitate or mimic:

   new domestic wines that copycat the expensive imports.

2. to copy slavishly; reproduce:

   The clothes were copycatted straight from designer originals.

copycat

/ ˈkɒpɪˌkæt /

noun

1. informal.
   1. a person, esp a child, who imitates or copies another
   2. ( as modifier )

      copycat murders

Other Words From

• copy·cat·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of copycat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; copy + cat ( def )

Example Sentences

While branding might help determine which brands gain quick traction early on, the quality of the product is what will determine which ones have staying power against copycats.

From Digiday

Three months ago, YouTube copycat Rumble was filled with home recordings of people’s family, friends, and pets.

From Fortune

Apodaca’s video quickly became a meme with hundreds of copycats singing along to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” while drinking Ocean Spray.

From Digiday

Then again, Facebook could just wait for another company to acquire Quibi and then churn out a copycat product.

From Digiday

I think it’s a copycat that doesn’t have any traction just yet.

From Fortune

Here are some quick tips to hold your own:   Avoid playing copycat.

From The Daily Beast

The theory of copycat suicides—fueled by media coverage—has long been studied in academic circles.

From The Daily Beast

One thing The O.C. started is all the copycat shows, from The Real Housewives of Orange County to Laguna Beach.

From The Daily Beast

Perfectly likable and watchable—it is a House copycat starring Greg Kinnear, after all—but not exactly the most inventive TV.

From The Daily Beast

China has no homegrown Apples or Microsofts, they say, because it is just a copycat nation.

From The Daily Beast