carbon copy

noun

1
: a copy made by carbon paper
2
: duplicate
is a carbon copy of his father

Examples of carbon copy in a Sentence

I'll need a carbon copy of that receipt. She's a carbon copy of her mother.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The granular details will be like a carbon copy of the personal data engine has learned on your previous S25. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 The fresh email wasn't a carbon copy of the first, sent roughly a week ago. Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025 Backup Blake Corum is a carbon copy of Williams, for better or worse. Derrik Klassen, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 The other two videos are carbon copies, except in one, the desert is a golden pink. Victoria Song, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for carbon copy

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carbon copy was in 1876

Cite this Entry

“Carbon copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%20copy. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

carbon copy

noun
1
: a copy made with carbon paper
2

More from Merriam-Webster on carbon copy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!