copy editor

noun

variants or less commonly copyeditor

ˈkä-pē-ˌe-də-tər 

1

: an editor who prepares copy for the typesetter

2

: one who edits and headlines newspaper copy

copyedit

ˈkä-pē-ˌe-dət 

transitive verb

or copy edit

Examples of copy editor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Five years later, he was hired at the Orlando Sentinel as a sports copy editor and eventually moved up to deputy sports editor. —Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

After stints as reporter, copy editor, night editor and city editor, I was appointed editor of the Sunday edition in 1956. —Si Liberman, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2024

Aghast at a foolish and quickly infamous mistake, one Free Press copy editor was ashamed to even come to work. —Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024

This week’s selection comes from Vulture copy editor Christopher Stanton, who will begin his screening of Inherent Vice on Wednesday, August 28, at 7 p.m. ET. —Chris Stanton, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

copy editor

noun

1

: an employee of a publishing house who corrects manuscript copy

2

: a person who edits and writes headlines for newspaper copy

copyedit

ˈkäp-ē-ˌed-ət 

verb