The Cu(II) atom of the title complex, [Cu(C(16)H(12)ClNO(3))(C(3)H(4)N(2))]·H(2)O, has a distorted square-planar coordination geometry formed by a tridentate Schiff base dianion and an imidazole ligand. The imidazole is nearly coplanar with the coordination plane, the dihedral angle between the planes being 3.73 (12)°. In the Schiff base ligand, the two benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 75.87 (12)°. O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure. One H atom of the uncoordinated water mol-ecule is disordered equally over two sites.