carbon copy

plural carbon copies · alternative carbon-copy

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.

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

   Synonyms: cc

2. broadlyA duplicate or lookalike.

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

   1 more example

   Now, I’m not saying Hollie [Ford] is Alix [Earle]’s carbon copy, but the visual similarities—namely the blonde hair and blue eyes—are absolutely there[.]

   2026 April 18, Starr Bowenbank, “Um, Braxton Berrios Was Spotted on a Date With a Model Who *Kinda* Looks Like Alix Earle”, in Cosmopolitan

3. InternetA duplicate copy of an email.

present singular third person carbon copies · participle present carbon copying · participle past carbon copied · past carbon copied · alternative carbon-copy

1. transitiveTo create a carbon copy of.

   Please carbon copy this contract for our records.

2. InternetTo send a duplicate copy of an email to.

   Synonyms: cc