Ciprofloxacin　(CIP)　is　a　third-generation　fluoroquinolones　(FQs)　antibiotic,　and　the　occurrence　of　CIP　in　the　water　environment　has　raised　growing　concerns　owning　to　its　environmental　toxicity.　In　this　paper,　a　novel　α-(Fe,　Cu)OOH/RGO　nanocomposite　was　synthesized　via　a　one-step　reflux　method　for　CIP　degradation　through　a　photo-Fenton-like　process.　When　the　RGO　content　was　1　wt%,　CIP　degradation　ratio　by　the　α-(Fe,　Cu)OOH/RGO　nanocomposite　reached　100%　under　visible　light　irradiation　within　120　min,　and　total　organic　carbon　(TOC)　removal　ratio　reached　60%　within　180　min.　The　result　of　molecular　fluorescence　spectra　highlighted　that　the　loading　of　RGO　on　the　α-(Fe,　Cu)OOH　significantly　increased　the　content　of　hydroxyl　radicals　(·OH)　in　the　heterogeneous　photo-Fenton-like　system　and　simultaneously　inhibited　the　recombination　of　photogenerated　electron　and　hole,　which　played　critical　roles　in　the　enhancement　of　CIP　degradation.　In　addition,　11　main　intermediates　were　identified　as　the　degradation　products　of　CIP　in　the　α-(Fe,　Cu)OOH/RGO/H2O2/visible　light　reaction　systems　using　liquid　chromatograph–mass　spectrometer　(LC-MS)　analyses.　The　results　demonstrated　that　three　degradation　pathways　for　CIP　removal　by　α-(Fe,　Cu)OOH/RGO　nanocomposite　occurred,　including　(i)　oxidation　on　the　piperazine　ring　and　dealkylation,　(ii)　defluorination　and　decarboxylation,　and　(iii)　hydroxylation　on　the　quinolone　ring.　This　work　would　provide　a　novel　insight　of　CIP　degradation　pathways　in　photo-Fenton-like　processes.　Graphical　abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.