copycat

American  

[kop-ee-kat] / ˈkɒp iˌkæt /

noun

1. a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of another, as a child who says or does exactly the same as another child.

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adjective

1. imitating or repeating a recent, well-known occurrence.

   a copycat murder.

verb (used with object)

copycatted, copycatting

1. to imitate or mimic.

   new domestic wines that copycat the expensive imports.

2. to copy slavishly; reproduce.

   The clothes were copycatted straight from designer originals.

copycat British  

/ ˈkɒpɪˌkæt /

noun

1. informal

   1. a person, esp a child, who imitates or copies another

   2. ( as modifier )

      copycat murders

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Other Word Forms

• copycatism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of copycat

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; copy + cat ( def. )

Explanation

Someone who mimics what you do or say is a copycat. If your little brother orders fettuccine Alfredo after you've already ordered it, you might call him a copycat. The word copycat is a lighthearted, gently derogatory word for a person who imitates someone else. If you love your friend's red shoes so much that you run out and buy identical ones, she might call you a copycat. When a criminal commits a crime that exactly follows the pattern of a previous crime, newspapers often refer to it as a copycat crime. The word has been in use in the United States since at least the 1880s.

Example Sentences

Meanwhile with deep pockets – hundreds of billions if not trillions – and enough time, most experts agree a company could build a copycat of Amazon's e-commerce platform.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

New York and Hawaii have now introduced copycat legislation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The immunotherapy accounts for nearly half of total Merck sales but is due to lose U.S. patent protection in 2028, exposing it to lower-cost copycat competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Dozens of copycat accounts have begun producing similar content and collectively they have racked up millions of views across TikTok and Instagram Reels.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

John followed up like a bratty little sister playing copycat.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds