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photocopier

American  
[foh-tuh-kop-ee-er] / ˈfoʊ təˌkɒp i ər /

noun

  1. any electrically operated machine using a photographic method, as the electrostatic process, for making instant copies of written, drawn, or printed material.


photocopier British  
/ ˈfəʊtəʊˌkɒpɪə /

noun

  1. an instrument using light-sensitive photographic materials to reproduce written, printed, or graphic work

"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

Etymology

Origin of photocopier

First recorded in 1930–35; photo- + copier

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.

“I see my work evolve more in evolutions, rather than in revolutions,” Tillmans said, gesturing to a conceptual wall-sized image created with a photocopier.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

A cleaner noted the following morning that red wine had been spilled on one wall and on a number of boxes of photocopier paper.

From BBC • May 25, 2022

The blue light of the photocopier flashes on their faces.

From Salon • May 12, 2022

At the store, Mr. Patel would write reflective sayings on Essex Card Shop stationery, using the shop’s photocopier to make 30 or 40 leaflets a week to offer to customers.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2022

For three years, I’d given myself to it with zeal, taking responsibility for the largest and the smallest of operational tasks, right down to restocking paper in the photocopier.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama