copycat

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /ˈkɑpiˌkæt/ UK /ˈkɒpiˌkæt/ See IPA manual

noun adj

Meanings

1

noun
a person who imitates another, or an act that imitates one before it

The detectives feared a copycat after the headlines broke.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who imitates... imitator mimic copier followerplagiarist

Opposites

innovator originator pioneer

Word family

Related forms copy cat

Etymology

A compound of 'copy' plus 'cat', first attested in the late 19th century in New England dialect, the cat perhaps figuring as an instinctive imitator.

Topics

People & Society

# copycat

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** ˈkɑpiˌkæt
**IPA (UK):** ˈkɒpiˌkæt

## Meanings
1. a person who imitates another, or an act that imitates one before it

## Examples
- The detectives feared a copycat after the headlines broke.

## Synonyms
- imitator
- mimic
- copier
- follower
- plagiarist

## Antonyms
- innovator
- originator
- pioneer

## Related Forms
- copy
- cat

## Etymology
A compound of 'copy' plus 'cat', first attested in the late 19th century in New England dialect, the cat perhaps figuring as an instinctive imitator.

## AI Etymology
Copycat is a noun and adjective meaning "a person who imitates another, or an act that imitates one before it". Historically, it is a compound of 'copy' plus 'cat', first attested in the late 19th century in New England dialect, the cat perhaps figuring as an instinctive imitator. The visible construction is part of the etymology: copycat is not just an unanalyzed simple word. Close English family members include copy, and cat.

## Topics
- People & Society

markdown

copycat

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback