1
as in imitator
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way she prides herself on being an innovator in fashion, and not a mere copyist

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2
as in scribe
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts some scholars argue that the vexing passage reflects a misreading of the text by an early copyist

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of copyist Material features can also include things like colophons—formulas at the end of a text that attest to its completeness and fidelity and often also include the name of the copyist—doodles in the margins, mistakes and corrections, even handwriting style. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025 The watercolor was recently rejected by specialists in 2020, who believe the copyist worked from a photograph of the work that was first published in 1904. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024 In an effort to thwart copyists, together these purist designers showed after the scheduled Fashion Week—and this was back when editors were still sailing to Paris from New York. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 As befits an artist who began her career working as a music copyist for famed Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, one of her key early mentors, Schneider composes with such skill, verve and clarity that her orchestra becomes a unique instrument of her own making. San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2023 As previously announced, the 2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist, Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE. Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 May 2022 But her intention has been to draw inspiration and insight from each, without being a copyist. Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022 Grishman is a music copyist for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater, who works closely with composers, orchestrators and players. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2022 Kane was married eight times, including to singer-actress Jaye P. Morgan, agent Carol Faith and lastly, in 1981, to the former JoAnn Johnson, a studio music copyist. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 23 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copyist
Noun
  • Founded in 1986 as an international program to nurture up-and-coming scribes, the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting announced back in March its partnership with global university programs, screenwriting labs and filmmaking organizations to select Nicholl fellows.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 5 May 2025
  • Consider this a practical guide for evaluating, selecting and successfully implementing an AI medical scribe in a healthcare practice.
    Fernando Cowan, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Creators with under 50K followers had more trust than celebrity influencers, the study found.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • These shows follow Hulu’s The D’Amelio Show, which followed the family, who have over 225M followers on TikTok, for three seasons.
    Peter White, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Other Trump tariff comments to Time have echoes of government price setting, which conservatives have generally shunned.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • This year’s edition of the springtime event still brought echoes of the 2023 strike and an industry last year trying to get on its feet amid numerous financial challenges.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025

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“Copyist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copyist. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

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