Definition of replicanext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun replica differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of replica are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

When would copy be a good substitute for replica?

The words copy and replica can be used in similar contexts, but copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When is duplicate a more appropriate choice than replica?

The synonyms duplicate and replica are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace replica?

While the synonyms facsimile and replica are close in meaning, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would reproduction be a reasonable alternative to replica?

In some situations, the words reproduction and replica are roughly equivalent. However, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of replica The construction project, to begin in June and be completed next June, includes restoring the wraparound porch and building a replica barn that will house the museum’s archives and offices. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026 The company builds coral-reef replicas to install in areas where reefs have been lost or are suffering. Justin Worland, Time, 28 May 2026 King Charles views a replica crown during a tour of costumes at the Royal Shakespeare Company's performance of The Tempest in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on May 22. People Staff, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026 Marc Jacobs Beauty is back, but not as a replica of its 2010s heyday. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • This new image uses data from the Sentinel-3 mission to show in vibrant color just how extreme and far-reaching this heat has been.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Multiple copies of Howl, Kaddish, and assembled collections of complete verse lined (and still line) my bookshelves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • The California Secretary of State’s office encouraged voters in that position to bring identification to the polling location, or include a copy in a vote-by-mail ballot.
    Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Jolie shares 6 children Shiloh, Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, with her ex-husband Brad Pitt.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 June 2026
  • The surviving twin, identified in court records as AH, was malnourished and unresponsive when first responders arrived.
    Laura Bauer June 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • On the other hand, LiPfe orbs don’t reproduce, and reproduction is one of the fundamental characteristics of life.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
  • Early in the movie, failed architect and failing furniture-store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers a portal into a seemingly endless, unpopulated liminal space filled with distorted reproductions of real-world rooms, objects, and even whole neighborhoods.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Those techniques facilitate back-and-forth conversations between the target and the AI clone voice, potentially making the scam more convincing, Ajder said.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
  • In addition to the actions above, profile verification will become increasingly important as AI clones and content grow.
    William Arruda, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Before Helios, the team built IKARUS, an earlier platform that served as a testbed for teleoperation, imitation learning, and dual-arm manipulation.
    Omar Kardoudi May 29, New Atlas, 29 May 2026
  • Its core capability is a whole-body imitation learning system that enables it to learn tasks by observing human demonstrations and executing them independently with high precision.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • This area of the Oltrarno is one of huge contrasts where artisan workshops stand meters from the grand palazzi whose aristocratic owners once employed cabinet makers, picture framers, furniture painters, and upholsterers to decorate their opulent homes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • To my right was a picture of a pearlescent orb floating on a blank field.
    Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Sticker trading events are expected to take place across the area, so that fans can gather and swap duplicates.
    Luis Miguel Echegaray, CBS News, 26 May 2026
  • The idea is to take the photo to a 3-D printer that can make a duplicate.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on replica

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster