copy
KO-pee
Copy (noun) means a duplicate of something original. Example: “I lost the original letter, so please post me a copy.”
noun
1
A duplicate of something original.
"I lost the original letter, so please post me a copy."
"Keep a copy of the contract for your records."
"She made three copies of the report before the meeting."
2
Written text intended for publication or advertising.
"Her job is to write the copy for the new product pages."
"The editor sent the copy back because it was far too long."
"The marketing team spent all week polishing the ad copy."
verb
1
To make a duplicate of something, or to imitate it.
"Can you copy these files onto a memory stick for me?"
"Please copy me on that email."
"He copied his brother's haircut exactly."
How to use copy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA duplicate of something, the text used in writing/publishing, or the act of duplicating or imitating.
Common mistake
In publishing/advertising, "copy" means the written words themselves, not a duplicate — a "copywriter" writes ad text, not photocopies.
Common pairings
make a copy
hard copy
carbon copy
copy and paste
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Word forms
- Plural
- copies
- Third person singular
- copies
- Past tense
- copied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I lost the original letter, so please post me a _____.
Etymology
From Old French copie ("transcript, abundance"), from Latin copia ("abundance"), since making many copies produces an abundance of a text.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for copy
loopy
poopy
canopy
jalopy
Snoopy
droopy
entropy
photocopy
anisotropy
laparoscopy
colonoscopy
bronchoscopy
See all rhymes for copy →
Frequently asked questions
What does “copy” mean?
The word “copy” means a duplicate of something original. In plain terms, a duplicate of something, the text used in writing/publishing, or the act of duplicating or imitating.
How do you pronounce “copy”?
“Copy” is pronounced KO-pee (/ˈkɑpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “copy” in a sentence?
Here is “copy” used in a sentence: “Keep a copy of the contract for your records.”
What is another word for “copy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “copy” include duplicate, facsimile, fake, forgery, image and likeness.
What is the opposite of “copy”?
The opposite of “copy” — its antonyms — are original and miscopy.
What part of speech is “copy”?
Depending on how it is used, “copy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “copy” come from?
The word “copy” comes from Latin. From Old French copie ("transcript, abundance"), from Latin copia ("abundance"), since making many copies produces an abundance of a text.
Is “copy” a common word?
“Copy” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a copy and the original?
The original is the first, authentic version, the thing that everything else is made from. A copy is a reproduction of it, made afterwards to look the same. However good a copy is, the original keeps its status as the source, which is why originals are usually more valuable than copies.
What are the types of copy?
Copies come in many forms: a photocopy or scan of a document, a hard copy that is printed versus a soft copy that is digital, a carbon copy made on paper, or a backup copy of computer files. In art, a replica or facsimile is a copy made to resemble an original work closely.
What is the difference between a copy and a duplicate?
They are very close in meaning. A "duplicate" stresses that the two items are identical and equally usable, as a duplicate key works just like the first. A "copy" simply reproduces an original and may be less exact. Every duplicate is a copy, but not every copy is a perfect duplicate.
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