Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A failure to fulfill a commitment or responsibility or to face a difficulty squarely.
  • noun A person who fails to fulfill a commitment or responsibility.
  • noun An excuse for inaction or evasion.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun idiomatic Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
  • noun idiomatic An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.
  • noun idiomatic A person who cops out.

Etymologies

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