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 noun
copulatory adjective

Synonyms of copulate

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.
And finally, wouldn’t being near-perfectly still for an hour make a pair of copulating octopuses ridiculously exposed to predators? Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026 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 In November 1995, Funston took a 5-year-old boy into some bushes, pulled down his pants and orally copulated him, prosecutors said. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026 After copulating, the two males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away. Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Copulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copulate. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

copulate

verb
cop·​u·​late ˈkäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
: to engage in sexual intercourse
copulation noun
copulatory 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 noun

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