copy desk

American  

noun

Journalism.

1. the desk in a newspaper office at which copy is edited and prepared for printing.

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copy desk British  

noun

1. journalism a desk where copy is edited

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Etymology

Origin of copy desk

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

A colleague told me later that the thought the anger was unusual coming from me, as I was typically a polite Mr. Dependable around the copy desk.

From Salon • May 27, 2023

Blake Hennon, a Times copy desk manager, told me that the dictionary used by our copy editors describes it as “often a disparaging term.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2022

He dismantled the print-focused copy desk, expanded the use of real-time news updates and emphasized visual journalism as much as the written word.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2022

“When she demanded to know how this happened, Odom was told the copy desk assumed her editor had written the piece,” Lowery reported.

From Washington Post • Feb. 15, 2022

The copy desk is supposed to catch those kinds of errors before they make the paper.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride