Phrase guide

carbon copy

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A copy produced in an alternated stack of ordinary sheets of paper and carbon papers. The pressure applied on the top sheet (by a pen or typewriter) causes every carbon paper to release its carbon cover, thus reproducing the writing on the subjacent layers of paper.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • In preparing the contract, we'll make a carbon copy for our records.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cc

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A duplicate or lookalike.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Examples

  • This new home is simply a carbon copy of the one down the street.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A duplicate copy of an email.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To create a carbon copy of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Please carbon copy this contract for our records.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To send a duplicate copy of an email to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cc

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

a copy made with carbon paper

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carbon

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: copy

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

45 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 副本 (fùběn) — a copy
  • Czech: průklep — a copy
  • Danish: gennemslag — a copy
  • Danish: gennemslagskopi — a copy
  • Dutch: doorslag — a copy
  • Finnish: hiilikopio — a copy
  • French: copie — a copy
  • German: Durchschlag — a copy
  • Irish: cóip charbóin — a copy
  • Portuguese: cópia carbono — a copy
  • Romanian: copie — a copy
  • Russian: ко́пия (kópija) — a copy
  • Russian: ко́пия че́рез копи́рку (kópija čérez kopírku) — a copy
  • Slovak: prieklep — a copy
  • Spanish: copia en papel carbón — a copy
  • Spanish: copia hecha con papel carbón — a copy
  • Spanish: copia al carbón — a copy
  • Tagalog: siping karbon — a copy
  • Vietnamese: bản sao — a copy
  • Welsh: copi carbon — a copy
  • Chinese Mandarin: 副本 (fùběn) — duplicate
  • Czech: kopie — duplicate
  • Finnish: kopio — duplicate
  • French: copie carbone — duplicate
  • Italian: copia conoscenza — duplicate
  • Romanian: copie la indigo — duplicate
  • Russian: ко́пия (kópija) — duplicate
  • Russian: дублика́т (dublikát) — duplicate
  • Vietnamese: bản sao — duplicate
  • Welsh: copi carbon — duplicate
  • Finnish: tehdä hiilikopio — to create a carbon copy of
  • Russian: копи́ровать (kopírovatʹ) — to create a carbon copy of
  • Russian: скопи́ровать (skopírovatʹ) — to create a carbon copy of
  • Vietnamese: nhân bản — to create a carbon copy of
  • Vietnamese: tạo bản sao — to create a carbon copy of
  • Welsh: carbon gopïo — to create a carbon copy of
  • Chinese Mandarin: 抄送 (chāosòng) — cc (email)
  • Finnish: lähettää kopio — cc (email)
  • French: mettre en copie — cc (email)
  • Polish: wysyłać kopię — cc (email)
  • Polish: wysłać kopię — cc (email)
  • Russian: посыла́ть ко́пию (posylátʹ kópiju) — cc (email)
  • Russian: посла́ть ко́пию (poslátʹ kópiju) — cc (email)
  • Vietnamese: đồng gửi — cc (email)
  • Vietnamese: đồng gởi — cc (email)