Copy vs. Xerox — What's the Difference?

To duplicate text or data.

To make a photocopy using a Xerox machine.

To replicate a physical or digital document.

Associated with the action of document duplication in a corporate setting.

To transfer information from one place to another.

Often used as synonymous with photocopying, regardless of brand.

To imitate or mimic.

To duplicate documents using photocopy technology.

To reproduce an artwork or design.

To reproduce a document using a specific brand’s technology.

A thing made to be similar or identical to another

Xerox Holdings Corporation (; also known simply as Xerox) is an American corporation that sells print and digital document products and services in more than 160 countries. Xerox is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut (having moved from Stamford, Connecticut, in October 2007), though it is incorporated in New York with its largest population of employees based around Rochester, New York, the area in which the company was founded.

A single specimen of a particular book, record, or other publication or issue

A photocopy.

Matter to be printed

A photocopier.

A blank booklet or notebook used for schoolwork

To make a paper copy or copies by means of a photocopier.

Make a similar or identical version of; reproduce

A copy made by the xerox process

Imitate the style or behaviour of

Duplicator that copies graphic matter by the action of light on an electrically charged photoconductive insulating surface in which the latent image is developed with a resinous powder

Hear or understand someone speaking on a radio transmitter

Reproduce by xerography

An imitation or reproduction of an original; a duplicate

(Computers) A file that has the same data as another file

One example of a printed text, picture, film, or recording

Material, such as a manuscript, that is to be set in type.

The words to be printed or spoken in an advertisement.

Suitable source material for journalism

To make a reproduction or copy of

To follow as a model or pattern; imitate.

To include as an additional recipient of a written communication

To make a copy or copies.

To admit of being copied

To hear clearly or understand something said by radio communication

The result of copying; an identical duplicate of an original.

An imitation, sometimes of inferior quality.

(journalism) The text that is to be typeset.

(journalism) A gender-neutral abbreviation for copy boy.

The output of copywriters, who are employed to write material which encourages consumers to buy goods or services.

(uncountable) The text of newspaper articles.

A school work pad.

A printed edition of a book or magazine.

Writing paper of a particular size, called also bastard.

(obsolete) That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a pattern, model, or example.

(obsolete) An abundance or plenty of anything.

(obsolete) copyhold; tenure; lease

(genetics) The result of gene or chromosomal duplication.

(transitive) To produce an object identical to a given object.

(transitive) To give or transmit a copy to (a person).

To place a copy of an object in memory for later use.

(transitive) To imitate.

(radio) To receive a transmission successfully.

An abundance or plenty of anything.

An imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work; as, a copy of a letter, an engraving, a painting, or a statue.

An individual book, or a single set of books containing the works of an author; as, a copy of the Bible; a copy of the works of Addison.

That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a pattern, model, or example; as, his virtues are an excellent copy for imitation.

Manuscript or printed matter to be set up in type; as, the printers are calling for more copy.

A writing paper of a particular size. Same as Bastard. See under Paper.

Copyhold; tenure; lease.

To make a copy or copies of; to write; print, engrave, or paint after an original; to duplicate; to reproduce; to transcribe; as, to copy a manuscript, inscription, design, painting, etc.; - often with out, sometimes with off.

To imitate; to attempt to resemble, as in manners or course of life.

To make a copy or copies; to imitate.

To yield a duplicate or transcript; as, the letter did not copy well.

A reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

A secondary representation of an original;

Matter to be printed; exclusive of graphical materials

Material suitable for a journalistic account;

Copy down as is;

Reproduce someone's behavior or looks;

Biology: reproduce or make an exact copy of;

Make a replica of;

Copying a document involves creating one or more duplicates of the original document through various methods such as photocopying, digital scanning, or manual copying.

Legally, copying documents can be subject to copyright laws, and unauthorized copying of copyrighted materials without permission may lead to legal penalties.

'Copy' is a broader term for making duplicates, while 'Xerox' specifically refers to photocopying, often implying the use of a Xerox brand machine.

Yes, Xerox is often used synonymously with photocopy, especially in contexts where Xerox brand machines are used.

While 'Xerox' originates from the brand, it is commonly used generically to mean any photocopying, regardless of the machine brand.

Yes, alternatives include digital scanners, multifunctional printers that also scan, and online document management systems.

Yes, in colloquial and office-related contexts, 'Xerox' is commonly used as a verb to mean photocopying.

It typically means they need to photocopy the handout, often using a Xerox machine.

No, copying can also involve digital documents and files across various digital platforms.

Artwork can be copied manually or digitally reproduced, but Xeroxing usually refers to photocopying documents and may not capture the quality needed for artwork reproductions.

Both activities can have environmental impacts due to paper usage and energy consumption, and efforts like recycling and using energy-efficient machines can help mitigate these effects.

By adopting digital documentation practices, using emails, and digital storage solutions to minimize the need for physical copies.

Files can be copied using digital methods like scanning, using USB drives, or through online transfers, among others.

Educational institutions often need to comply with fair use policies, which allow limited copying and distribution of copyrighted materials for educational purposes under specific conditions.

Digital technology has reduced the need for physical Xeroxing by allowing digital copies to be made and shared electronically.