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Definition of copout

copout

/ˈkɑːpaʊt/
cop · out
Plural:copouts
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copout Lexical Profile

copout Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An instance of avoiding a commitment, responsibility, or difficult situation, or a weak excuse used to justify such avoidance.

Example

"Blaming the project's delay entirely on minor software glitches felt like a convenient copout."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for copout

Word Nuance & Usage

The noun is frequently hyphenated as 'cop-out', whereas the corresponding phrasal verb is always written as two separate words ('cop out').

• Rhymes for copout

• Nearby Words

coping saw
copious
copiously
copout
copper
copper beech
copper river

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in mid-20th-century American slang from the phrasal verb 'cop out', which originally meant to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence before broadening to mean evading responsibility.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Copout. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/copout
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