copycat

UK: /ˈkɒpikæt/ US: /ˈkɑpiˌkæt/ ,(kop′ē kat′)

Inflections of 'copycat' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

copycats

v 3rd person singular

copycatting

v pres p

copycatted

v past

copycatted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cop•y•cat /ˈkɑpiˌkæt/   n., adj., v., -cat•ted, -cat•ting. 
n. [countable] Also, ˈcop•y ˌcat.

1. a person or thing that imitates another exactly.

adj. [before a noun]

2. imitating a well-known event:
   a copycat crime.

v. [~ + object]

3. to imitate;
   mimic.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cop•y•cat  (kop′ē kat′), n., v., -cat•ted, -cat•ting. 
n. Also, cop′y cat′. 

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.

adj. 

2. imitating or repeating a recent, well-known occurrence:
   a copycat murder.

v.t. 

3. to imitate or mimic:
   new domestic wines that copycat the expensive imports.
4. to copy slavishly;
   reproduce:
   The clothes were copycatted straight from designer originals.

• copy + cat¹ 1895–1900, American.

cop′y•cat•ism, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

copycat / ˈkɒpɪˌkæt/ noun

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