replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌre-plə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: answer, reply

b(1)

: an answer to a reply : rejoinder

(2)

: a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's plea, answer, or counterclaim

2

: echo, reverberation

3

a

: copy, reproduction

b

: the action or process of reproducing or duplicating

replication of DNA

viral replication

4

: performance of an experiment or procedure more than once

Synonyms of replication

• reproduction
• copy
• replica

Examples of replication in a Sentence

bought a smaller and cheaper replication of the marble statue for his garden

we'll need to do a replication of that experiment so we can collect more data

Recent Examples on the Web

Neither Washington nor Beijing benefits from losing control of systems capable of autonomous replication, accelerating the development of their own successors, evading oversight, or enabling catastrophic biological or cyber harm. — Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

This is different to me than, say, a re-creation of the Eiffel Tower being plopped into Las Vegas, which is preying on replication as generic spectacle. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

These theories and other will-power research ran into replication difficulties a decade ago. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

However, antiviral treatment that shuts down viral replication does not reliably prevent or reduce post-herpetic neuralgia. — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English replicacioun "answer, rejoinder, argument, repetition," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French replicacion "answer to an argument or statement of an opponent," borrowed from Late Latin replicātiōn-, replicātiō "act of bending or folding, repetition, reply, replication in court," going back to Latin, "contrary rotation, replication," from replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at replicate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for replication

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌrep-lə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: very exact copying or duplication

2

: an act or process of copying or duplication

Medical Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌrep-lə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the action or process of reproducing or duplicating

replication of DNA

2

: performance of an experiment or procedure more than once

Legal Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌre-plə-ˈkā-shən 

: reply

Etymology

Anglo-French, from Middle French, from Late Latin replicatio, from Latin, action of folding back, from replicare to fold back