Final answer:
The term 'hard copy' refers to a printed copy of a digital document.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this passage, the term 'hard copy' refers to a printed copy of a digital document. It is mentioned that Sam, an architect, forgot to grab the hard copy of the project plan but he had his laptop to refer to the file. This implies that the hard copy refers to a physical printout of a digital document that can be easily read and passed around to others.