copyright
KO-pee-ryt
Copyright (noun) means the legal right to control who may reproduce, publish, or distribute a creative work. Example: “Under copyright law, nobody can sell copies of the book without the publisher's consent.”
noun
1
The legal right to control who may reproduce, publish, or distribute a creative work.
"Under copyright law, nobody can sell copies of the book without the publisher's consent."
"The author retains copyright on all her novels."
"Using the photo without permission could be a copyright violation."
verb
1
To secure legal copyright protection for a work.
"The photographer copyrighted every image before putting her portfolio online."
"If you want to copyright your poem, you should register it with the proper office."
"They copyrighted the song before releasing it."
How to use copyright
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe legal protection that stops others from copying or using your creative work without permission.
Common mistake
Copyright protects the specific expression of an idea, not the underlying idea itself.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
copyright infringement
copyright law
hold the copyright
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like copyright.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- copyrights
- Third person singular
- copyrights
- Past tense
- copyrighted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Under _____ law, nobody can sell copies of the book without the publisher's consent.
Etymology
From copy plus right, referring to the legal right over how a copy of a work is made and used.
Synonyms
View more →
right of first publication
Frequently asked questions
What does “copyright” mean?
The word “copyright” means the legal right to control who may reproduce, publish, or distribute a creative work. In plain terms, the legal protection that stops others from copying or using your creative work without permission.
How do you pronounce “copyright”?
“Copyright” is pronounced KO-pee-ryt (/ˈkɑpiˌɹaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “copyright” in a sentence?
Here is “copyright” used in a sentence: “The author retains copyright on all her novels.”
What part of speech is “copyright”?
Depending on how it is used, “copyright” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “copyright” a common word?
“Copyright” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “copyright” have?
“Copyright” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the legal right to control who may reproduce, publish, or distribute a creative work.
What is the difference between "copyright" and "trademark"?
"Copyright" protects creative works such as books, music, and art by controlling who may reproduce, publish, or distribute them. A "trademark" protects brand identifiers like names, logos, and slogans that distinguish one company's goods from another's.
What is the difference between "copyright" and "patent"?
"Copyright" covers original creative and artistic works and the right to copy them. A "patent" protects inventions, such as new products, processes, or technical methods, rather than creative expression.
Is it spelled "copyright" or "copywrite"?
The correct spelling is "copyright," from the legal right to copy a work. "Copywrite" is a common mistake and is not standard; the related term "copywriting" means writing advertising or marketing text, which is unrelated to legal copyright.
Can "copyright" be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, "to copyright" means to secure legal copyright protection for a work, as in "she copyrighted her songs." As a noun, it names the legal right itself.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include copyright:
