Synonyms

photocopy

American

[foh-tuh-kop-ee] / ˈfoʊ təˌkɒp i /

noun

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

verb (used with object)

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

photocopy British

/ ˈfəʊtəʊˌkɒpɪ /

noun

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

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

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

photocopies

plural

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

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

The case revolved around Rameshwari Photocopy Services, a shop on the campus of the University of Delhi.

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