copy
Americannoun
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an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original.
a copy of a famous painting.
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one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
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written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form.
The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
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the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.
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the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often preceded by good orbad ).
The president is always good copy.
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Computers. an exact duplicate of a file, program, etc..
Keep a backup copy of the document.
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Genetics. replication.
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Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
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British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
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British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).
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Archaic. something that is to be reproduced; an example or pattern, as of penmanship to be copied by a pupil.
verb (used with object)
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to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce.
to copy a set of figures from a book.
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to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
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to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.
- Antonyms:
- originate
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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)
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to make a copy or copies.
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to undergo copying.
It copied poorly.
I can't install the program—one file won't copy.
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to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio.
Do you copy?
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Newfoundland. Also to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.
idioms
noun
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an imitation or reproduction of an original
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a single specimen of something that occurs in a multiple edition, such as a book, article, etc
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matter to be reproduced in print
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written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc
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the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
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informal journalism suitable material for an article or story
disasters are always good copy
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archaic a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship
verb
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to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
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(tr) to imitate as a model
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(intr) to imitate unfairly
Synonym Usage
See imitate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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copysimple
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copiessimple
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have copiedperfect
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has copiedperfect
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am copyingprogressive
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are copyingprogressive
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is copyingprogressive
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have been copyingperfect progressive
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has been copyingperfect progressive
Past
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copiedsimple
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had copiedperfect
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was copyingprogressive
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were copyingprogressive
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had been copyingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing copy
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Journalism
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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.
See Examples For:
Your girlfriend can request a copy of her Supplemental Security Income file or contact the Social Security Administration to confirm whether her benefit is already being reduced under the “PMV rule.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
But Itoro says his legal status did not protect him from hostility as he shows the BBC a copy of the document that he says proves he had the right to stay in the country.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Ross Simmons found the water-damaged copy of “The Antiquities of Athens” while renovating a house in the seaside town of Kiama, south of Sydney.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
A book agent, Marc Gerald, said he signed its author, Jerry Falade, about a month ago, after reading a copy of the unsolicited manuscript.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
He shouldered it off and retrieved the glowing copy of The Way to Rio Luna.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
FLAG’s online store sells Adams’ personal books — including “Alpha Kings” and “From Mar-a-Lago to Mars,” several marketed as signed copies for as much as $40 — alongside its own educational materials.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
In June, Rockstar Games announced that physical copies of GTA 6, perhaps one of the most hotly-anticipated games in history, would contain a code for a digital download for the game rather than a disc.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Ellis’s classic 1998 book, “Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing,” now in its eighth edition, has sold more than 1 million copies.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The company said the game, “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced,” had already sold 3.5 million copies, exceeding annual expectations in just 14 days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Thumbing through copies of each edition, Bobby made a mental note of which openings being played around the world won more games than others and which seemed too unorthodox.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The companies initially complained about Wolfoo's appearance and artwork, but focused their legal case on the audio because they believed it would be easier to prove that sound clips were directly copied.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
In addition, certain genetic backgrounds showed a striking tendency toward whole-genome duplication, an event in which the complete set of chromosomes is copied.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
It is hard to see how any AI model will produce sustained outperformance, because it will simply be copied.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
All the data copied so far had been publicly available, he stressed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
To make an RNA copy of a gene, the cell used a rather simple transposition: every A,C,T, and G in a gene was copied to an A, C, U, and G in the messenger RNA.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Another risk: If it’s easy for one entrepreneur to launch an AI-assisted business, copying them can be easy, too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The evidence of "copying of the audio clips is compelling", the judge decided.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
GLP-1 helps regulate hunger and blood sugar, and semaglutide works by copying its effects in the body.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
What AI does with words it devours is different from just copying and regurgitating the content verbatim, so many people consider it fair use.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
“With pleasure,” I replied; and I felt a thrill of artist-delight at the idea of copying from so perfect and radiant a model.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
