BCC
2 synonyms for BCC, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Abbreviation — Blind carbon copy: an email field that sends a copy of the message to the addresses listed in it without revealing those addresses to any other recipient.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
blind carbon copy
blind copy
How to use BCC
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
put in BCC
BCC the list
BCC'd me
CC and BCC
Standard in all email use. Verb forms are usually written BCC'd or bcc'd.
Etymology
An initialism of blind carbon copy, from the carbon paper once used to make duplicate copies of typed letters.
Full origin of BCC →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CC and BCC in email?
CC, carbon copy, sends a visible copy: everyone can see who was CC'd. BCC, blind carbon copy, sends a hidden copy: the people in the To and CC fields cannot see the BCC addresses, and BCC'd recipients cannot see each other either.
Can BCC recipients see each other?
No. Each BCC'd person sees only the To and CC recipients, never the other BCC addresses. That is exactly why BCC is the correct field for emailing a large list of people who should not have each other's addresses.
Does BCC show up if someone replies all?
No. If a BCC'd recipient uses reply all, the reply goes to the original sender and the visible recipients only in some clients, but in most it goes to the sender alone, and their hidden status is not announced. Do not rely on BCC to stay secret, though, since the recipient can always reveal it themselves.
