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Synonyms

photocopy

American  
[foh-tuh-kop-ee] / ˈfoʊ təˌkɒp i /

noun

plural

photocopies

  1. a photographic reproduction of a document, print, or the like.

verb (used with object)

photocopied, photocopying

  1. to reproduce (a document, print, or the like) photographically.

photocopy British  
/ ˈfəʊtəʊˌkɒpɪ /

noun

  1. a photographic reproduction of written, printed, or graphic work See also microcopy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to reproduce (written, printed, or graphic work) on photographic material

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of photocopy

First recorded in 1920–25; photo- + copy

Vocabulary lists containing photocopy

Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: photo

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Photocopy plates of the mural survived the fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2025

But then, about six months later, I spotted an intriguing notice on X. “Praxis magazine launch. Tomorrow night. Photocopy your favourite pages.”

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2024

Photocopy her poetry and send it to family members.

From Slate • Nov. 12, 2020

Rameshwari Photocopy Services in New Delhi was taken to court for copying parts of textbooks, and won.Credit:

From Nature • Jul. 16, 2019

Photocopy machines were a lot slower in 1969—each sheet had to be set on the glass by hand, and it took several seconds to copy a single page.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.