carbon copy

American  

noun

1. 1. a duplicate of anything written or typed, made by using a photocopier or, formerly, by using carbon paper. cc

   2. a copy of an email or other electronic document that is sent to one or more people in addition to the primary addressee. cc

2. a near or exact duplicate of a given person or thing; replica.

   She's a carbon copy of her mother.

---

carbon copy British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: carbon.  a duplicate copy of writing, typewriting, or drawing obtained by using carbon paper

2. informal a person or thing that is identical or very similar to another

---

carbon copy Idioms  

1. A person or thing that closely resembles another, as in Our grandson is a carbon copy of his dad. Originally this term meant a copy of a document made by using carbon paper. The linguistic transfer to other kinds of duplicate survived the demise of carbon paper (replaced by photocopiers, computer printers, and other more sophisticated devices). [c. 1870]

---

Etymology

Origin of carbon copy

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carbon copy

His deep 3-pointer in overtime was a carbon copy of a shot Stephen Curry had once nailed in Oklahoma City to beat the Thunder—except that Wembanyama is over a foot taller than Curry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

It was almost a carbon copy of Torres' first goal for Liverpool, against Chelsea in 2007.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

McEnroe described the way Sinner slides as a "carbon copy" of Djokovic, saying the Italian had "learned from the master".

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025

That’s not to say he’s a carbon copy of the Chiefs star.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2025

“Yeah. Just look at Maddy. She’s turned into a carbon copy of Sweet Stephanie, and it’s enough to make me puke. She’s a carbon cupcake.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• mirror image