CC

What Does CC Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

CC means "Closed Captions," "Carbon Copy," "Credit Card," or "Country Code."

Closed Captions

When used in the context of watching a video, CC means Closed Captions. Closed Captions are a type of subtitles used to display on-screen text in video apps such as YouTube and TikTok. Normal subtitles are used when sound is available but not understood (e.g., because the user does not understand the language of the audio track). CC, however, are used to include transcription or translation of the dialog as well sound effects and other audio information when sound is unavailable or not clearly audible (e.g., because it is muted or drowned-out by ambient noise, or because the user is deaf). CC are off until activated by the viewer.

Carbon Copy

In formal correspondence and in emails, CC means "Carbon Copy." It refers to an addressee who is included on the distribution list for information only. As all recipients of an email can see who the main and CC addressees are, it is a common (but unpopular) practice to CC a senior person to let all the "To" addressees know their boss is aware of the task. The term "Carbon Copy" comes from the once-common practice of creating a copy of a document by placing a carbon sheet under the original so the pressure from the pen or typewriter imprints the carbon onto the sheet below (the "Carbon Copy"). As well as CC addressees, an email can have BCC ("Blind Carbon Copy") addressees.

Credit Card

In a banking context, CC means "Credit Card."

Country Code

"Country Codes" are short alphabetic or numeric codes used in data processing and communications to represent countries and other geographical areas. (See also CCTLD ("Country Code Top-Level Domain").

Image for CC

When I write CC, I mean this:

CC also means "Closed Captions," "Credit Card," and "Country Code."

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

CC
Definition:	Closed Captions
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for CC

"Carbon Copy" is a common definition for CC in email and written correspondence.

CC
Definition:	Carbon Copy
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition for CC

"Credit Card" is a common definition for CC in texting.

CC
Definition:	Credit Card
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

Fourth Definition for CC

CC also means "Country Code."

CC
Definition:	Country Code
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of Cc in Sentences

Here are examples of Cc in conversations:

• Tom: How can we get our videos onto the For You page?
• Cher: We should add CC. TikTok loves that.

(Here, CC means "Closed Captions.")

• Rob: Why didn't you attend the fire practice? Didn't you see the email?
• Teresa: I didn't think it applied to me, because I was just a CC addressee.

(Here, CC means "Carbon Copy.")

An Academic Look at Cc

CC is an initialism abbreviation. This means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "See See"). (Initialisms contrast with acronyms, which are spoken like words.)

When used with the meaning "Carbon Copy," CC is most commonly used a verb. However, it is also used as a noun and an adjective. For example:

• Please CC me on your email.

(Here, CC is a verb.)
• I sent you a CC.

(Here, CC is a noun.)
• I sent you a CC copy.

(Here, CC is an adjective. In this example, it is being used tautologically because the last C stands for "Copy," making the word "copy" redundant.)

Example of CC Used in a Text

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