name
Uncommon
McCoy
muh-KOY
McCoy (name) means a family name.
name
1
A family name.
noun
1
Used in the real McCoy to mean the genuine thing, not a copy.
"Far as I know it's the McCoy. You want to count it?"
— George V. Higgins (1970)
"Far as I know it's the McCoy. You want to count it?"
— George V. Higgins, The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1970)
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Synonyms
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genuine article
real deal
real thing
Related words
Rhymes for McCoy
See all rhymes for McCoy →Frequently asked questions
What does “McCoy” mean?
The word “McCoy” means a surname.
How do you pronounce “McCoy”?
“McCoy” is pronounced muh-KOY (/məˈkɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “McCoy” in a sentence?
Here is “McCoy” used in a sentence: “Far as I know it's the McCoy. You want to count it?”
What part of speech is “McCoy”?
Depending on how it is used, “McCoy” can be a name and a noun.
Is “McCoy” a common word?
“McCoy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “McCoy” have?
“McCoy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a surname.
Is McCoy always used as a surname, or does it have another meaning?
McCoy functions both as a surname and, in the fixed phrase "the real McCoy," as a noun meaning the genuine article. Outside that phrase, McCoy is used strictly as a family name.
What is the difference between "the real McCoy" and "the real deal"?
Both phrases describe something authentic and not a substitute, and they are largely interchangeable in modern usage. "The real McCoy" is the older, more idiomatic phrasing, while "the real deal" is a more transparent, literal alternative.
