— copycatism , n.
/kop"ee kat'/ , n. , v. , copycatted, copycatting .
n. Also, copy cat .
1. a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of another, as a child who says or does exactly the same as another child.
adj.
2. imitating or repeating a recent, well-known occurrence: a copycat murder.
v.t.
3. to imitate or mimic: new domestic wines that copycat the expensive imports.
4. to copy slavishly; reproduce: The clothes were copycatted straight from designer originals.
[ 1895-1900, Amer.; COPY + CAT 1 ]