xerox
ˈzɪərɒks
noun
Origin
Greek
ξηρός (xeros) — dry
Overview
Meaning Now
- A copy produced by a xerographic process.
- The process of xerography itself.
Language path
Greek → English
Earliest form
Xerox
Earliest period
1948
Journey
The term was derived from the Greek 'xeros' (dry) because the process uses dry electrostatic charges rather than wet chemical developers common in earlier photography and duplication methods. It became a generic trademark in some regions due to its immense market dominance in the mid-20th century.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
xēros
“dry”
- 1938
xerography
“printing process using static electricity and dry powder”
Coined by Chester Carlson using Greek roots.
- 1948
Xerox
“Commercial trademark”
Trademark adopted for the machine and process.
- 1960s onwards
xerox
“generic term for photocopying”
Used as a verb and noun synonymous with copying.
Connections
Word parts
xero-
root
dry
-graphy
suffix
writing or recording
Related across languages
Greek
ξηρός
dry
Explore next
Related to xerox
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.