duplicate

1 of 3

adjective

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
1
: consisting of or existing in two corresponding or identical parts or examples
duplicate invoices
2
: being the same as another
duplicate copies

duplicate

2 of 3

verb

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
duplicated; duplicating

transitive verb

1
: to make double or twofold
2
a
: to make a copy of
a cell duplicates itself when it divides
b
: to produce something equal to
trying to duplicate last year's success
c
: to do over or again often needlessly
duplicated effort

intransitive verb

: to become duplicated
also : repeat
duplicative
ˈdü-pli-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
adjective

duplicate

3 of 3

noun

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
1
a
: either of two things exactly alike and usually produced at the same time or by the same process
b
: an additional copy of something (such as a book or stamp) already in a collection
2
: one that resembles or corresponds to another : counterpart
3
: two identical copies
used in the phrase in duplicate
Choose the Right Synonym for duplicate

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another.

reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details

a replica of the Mayflower

but not always in the same scale.

miniature replicas of classic cars

Examples of duplicate in a Sentence

Adjective I began receiving duplicate copies of the magazine every month. I had a duplicate key made. Verb She duplicated the video to give to family and friends. Unfortunately, the results of the first study could not be duplicated. Noun In case you lose your keys, keep a set of duplicates somewhere safe. doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Being caught with duplicate content may lead to severe consequences, up to expulsion. Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025 Starting with iOS 16, the Photos app on your iPhone automatically detects duplicate photos and videos, organizing them into a Duplicates album located in the Utilities section. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
Some moon images had to be duplicated and adjusted slightly to maintain the natural progression. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025 But Snow White also had commercial appeal in a way that seemed to flummox Disney, and that took him a while to figure out how to duplicate. Constance Grady, Vox, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
Clones are as much a sci-fi staple as robots, spaceships, and time travel, with every major franchise dabbling with duplicates somewhere down the line. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Fans painstakingly catalogue their collections, trade duplicates, and share creative DIY modifications. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for duplicate

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin duplicatus, past participle of duplicare to double, from duplic-, duplex

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of duplicate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duplicate. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

duplicate

1 of 3 adjective
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
1
: having two parts exactly the same or alike
2
: being the same as another

duplicate

2 of 3 verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
1
: to make double
2
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative adjective

duplicate

3 of 3 noun
ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət
: a thing that is exactly like another

Medical Definition

duplicate

intransitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to become duplicate : replicate
DNA in chromosomes duplicates

Legal Definition

duplicate

1 of 2 transitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative adjective

duplicate

2 of 2 noun
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
: either of two things exactly alike and often produced at the same time
specifically : a counterpart identified in the Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 1001 as produced by the same impression as the original or from the same matrix or by means of photography, mechanical, or electronic rerecording, chemical reproduction, or another technique which accurately reproduces the original compare original

More from Merriam-Webster on duplicate

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