copycat

[ kop-ee-kat ]

noun

1. a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of another, as a child who says or does exactly the same as another child.

adjective

1. imitating or repeating a recent, well-known occurrence:

   a copycat murder.

verb (used with object)

, cop·y·cat·ted, cop·y·cat·ting.

1. to imitate or mimic:

   new domestic wines that copycat the expensive imports.

2. to copy slavishly; reproduce:

   The clothes were copycatted straight from designer originals.

copycat

/ ˈkɒpɪˌkæt /

noun

1. informal.
   1. a person, esp a child, who imitates or copies another
   2. ( as modifier )

      copycat murders

Other Words From

• copy·cat·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of copycat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; copy + cat ( def )

Example Sentences

Manson long maintained that he had not ordered any murders even after his 1971 conviction, with some claiming the 1969 murders were “copycats” masterminded by another.

From Los Angeles Times

On one level, you can understand this - many of these inexplicable assaults on the community are copycat in nature.

From BBC

Federal law normally bans pharmacies from making copycat versions of commercially available drugs.

From Los Angeles Times

The motives remain unclear, as does whether the threats come from a single individual, a group, or are simply copycat acts.

From BBC

For many years, knife attacks on strangers have come in waves in this country and they seem to be horrific copycat attempts at gaining attention.

From BBC