copper

1 of 3

noun (1)

cop·​per ˈkä-pər How to pronounce copper (audio)
plural coppers
Synonyms of coppernext
1
: a metallic chemical element with atomic number 29 that is easily formed into sheets and wires and is one of the best known conductors of heat and electricity
—often used before another noun
copper wire
a copper mug
copper mines
 see Chemical Elements Table
2
: a coin or token made of copper or bronze
3
chiefly British : a large boiler (as for cooking)
4
: any of a subfamily (Lycaeninae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings

copper

2 of 3

verb

coppered; coppering ˈkä-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce copper (audio)

transitive verb

: to coat or sheathe with or as if with copper

copper

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural coppers
: police officer

Synonyms of copper

Relevance

Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of copper in a Sentence

Noun (2) a crime novel set in the days when policemen were coppers and safecrackers were "yeggs"
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.
Noun
The chipmaker and networking provider must dominate the fiber in the data center as connections move away from copper. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 The heat generated in the copper windings has to go somewhere. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 After recognizing the need for sturdier work pants, Strauss partnered with tailor Jacob Davis to develop a design that used copper rivets on denim and duck canvas pants, laying the foundation for the modern blue jean. — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 Mongolia is a major supplier of coal and copper to China, the world’s largest consumer of both commodities. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copper

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English coper, from Old English, from Late Latin cuprum copper, from Latin (aes) Cyprium, literally, Cyprian metal

Noun (2)

cop entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copper was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing copper

Rhymes for copper

See All Rhymes for copper

Browse Nearby Words

Coppell
copper
copper acetate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Copper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copper. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

copper

1 of 2 noun
cop·​per ˈkäp-ər How to pronounce copper (audio)
1
: a reddish metallic element that is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity see element
2
: a copper or bronze coin
3
chiefly British : a large copper kettle or boiler
4
: any of various small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings
coppery
ˈkäp-(ə-)rē
adjective

copper

2 of 2 noun
: police officer

Medical Definition

copper

noun
cop·​per ˈkäp-ər How to pronounce copper (audio)
: a metallic chemical element with atomic number 29 that is ductile and malleable and one of the best conductors of heat and electricity
—symbol Cu see Chemical Elements Table
coppery
ˈkäp-(ə-)rē How to pronounce copper (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on copper

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about copper

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All