What does photocopy mean?
A photocopy is a paper reproduction of a document, picture, or other material, made with a machine rather than by handwritten transcription. The word is also used as a verb: to photocopy something is to reproduce it in this way. Photocopying is especially common for forms, contracts, photographs, notes, and archival material, where retaining a separate copy is useful. In everyday British and US English, “photocopy” clearly emphasizes the copying machine or its result, while “copy” is broader and may refer to a handwritten duplicate, an electronic file, or an abstract reproduction. The term belongs to modern office and educational vocabulary and reflects the widespread adoption of photocopiers during the twentieth century. Although a photocopy is often visually identical to the source, it is normally regarded as a reproduction rather than the original document.
A reproduction of a document, image, or other material made by a copying machine, usually on paper.
"I need a photocopy of the signed form."
The noun is often used when a document must be duplicated for practical or administrative purposes.
To reproduce a document, image, or other material by means of a copying machine.
"They photocopied the entire report before distributing it."
In contemporary usage, the verb usually implies reproduction onto paper with a photocopier, though digital copying may also be included in broader technical contexts.
The standard plural of photocopy is “photocopies,” with the final “y” changing to “ies.”
"The teacher collected all the photocopies before the lesson ended."
The word is a modern compound built from the Greek-rooted “photo-” and the everyday word “copy,” reflecting the invention of machines that could reproduce documents in seconds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does photocopy come from?
The word combines the combining form “photo-,” from Greek phōtós, meaning “light,” with “copy.” Its development reflects the nineteenth- and twentieth-century technologies used to reproduce documents through photographic and related image-forming processes. The familiar meaning associated with office copying machines became established during the twentieth century as such machines became widely available.
Related word forms
How photocopy is actually used
The noun is commonly used in British and US English. The verb is often used with documents, forms, photographs, and other materials that can be reproduced on paper; in formal contexts, “copy” or “reproduce” may sound more general or polished.
Easily confused with photocopy
A copy can be made by many methods, whereas a photocopy is specifically a reproduction produced by photographic or electronic copying equipment.