copulate

verb

cop·​u·​late ˈkä-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
Synonyms of copulatenext

intransitive verb

: to engage in sexual intercourse
copulation
ˌkä-pyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce copulate (audio)
noun
copulatory
ˈkä-pyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce copulate (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of copulate

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Examples of copulate in a Sentence

Some animals have complex mating rituals before they copulate. the time of year when deer in the wild are likely to copulate
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.
Maybe she is beset by need to copulate, by the desire of the eggs inside her for their own plot of land. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 Male bees are fooled by these lookalikes and will attempt to copulate with them and, in doing so, will spread the pollen of the orchid. — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025 After copulating, the two males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 While copulating, female praying mantises often kill their mates and eat them. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for copulate

Word History

Etymology

Latin copulatus, past participle of copulare to join, from copula — see copula

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copulate was in 1630

Rhymes for copulate

See All Rhymes for copulate

Browse Nearby Words

copular
copulate
copulation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Copulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copulate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

copulate

verb
cop·​u·​late ˈkäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
: to engage in sexual intercourse
copulation
ˌkäp-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce copulate (audio)
noun
copulatory
ˈkäp-yə-lə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce copulate (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
adjective

Medical Definition

copulate

intransitive verb
cop·​u·​late ˈkäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
1
: to engage in sexual intercourse
2
of gametes : to fuse permanently compare conjugate sense 1
copulation
ˌkäp-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce copulate (audio)
noun
copulatory
ˈkäp-yə-lə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce copulate (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on copulate

Nglish: Translation of copulate for Spanish Speakers

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