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Meaning & use

copying

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈkɒpiɪŋ/
US/ˈkɑːpiɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The act of making a duplicate of a document, file or object.

    Grammar: Uncountable: copying is not allowed.

    Patterns

    • copying of something
    • photocopying

    Copying is free at the library if you bring your own paper.

    The copying of the old records took weeks.

    Unauthorized copying of the software is illegal.

  2. noununcountabledisapproving

    The act of taking another person's work, ideas or behavior and using them as your own, especially in school.

    Grammar: Often disapproving: copying in an exam.

    Patterns

    • copying from someone

    The teacher caught him copying from his neighbor's paper.

    Copying a classmate's homework teaches you nothing.

    Blatant copying got the designer into legal trouble.

  3. noununcountableinformal

    The act of imitating how someone speaks, moves or acts.

    Grammar: Informal: the toddler's copying of his big sister.

    Patterns

    • copying someone

    The toddler's copying of her sister made everyone laugh.

    Stop copying me!

    Early language learning depends on copying.

Common combinations

illegal copying
Illegal copying of films costs studios money.
copying and pasting
Copying and pasting text can lead to accusations of plagiarism.
copying machine
The copying machine jammed again.
caught copying
Students caught copying may fail the exam.
copying someone's style
He was accused of copying someone's style.

Synonyms and how they differ

duplication
Duplication is the formal term for making an exact second version, rather than imitating.
imitation
Imitation highlights following a model, which can be admiring, while copying can be critical.
plagiarism
Plagiarism means passing off someone's words as your own, so it is a more serious kind of copying.
cheating
Cheating is wider and means breaking rules to gain an advantage, of which copying answers is one form.

Opposites

creatingoriginality

Word family

copy noun
A duplicate or one example of a book.
copy verb
To make a duplicate or imitate.
copier noun
A machine that makes copies, or someone who copies.
copyist noun
A person who copies manuscripts or art.
copyright noun
The legal right to control copies of a work.

Commonly confused: copying or coping?

copying vs coping

Coping means managing a difficult situation, and is spelled with one fewer letter.

Practice

Which word best fits: 'The student was punished for ___ answers from a friend.'?

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