Synonym Chooser

How does the noun reproduction differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reproduction are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and replica. While all these words 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

When might copy be a better fit than reproduction?

In some situations, the words copy and reproduction are roughly equivalent. However, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When would duplicate be a good substitute for reproduction?

The meanings of duplicate and reproduction largely overlap; however, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace reproduction?

The synonyms facsimile and reproduction are sometimes interchangeable, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to reproduction?

While the synonyms replica and reproduction are close in meaning, 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

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 reproduction In the first section, a stone wall decoration reveals the earliest sculpture of a horse found in East Asia while a reproduction of the walls of the Chinese city of Shimao offers many animal-like images. Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 Without this abundance, reproduction rates fall, cub survival drops, and entire ecosystems can shift. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025 While genuine antiques from the Ming dynasty can fetch millions at auction, many later reproductions and export pieces from the 18th to 20th centuries still carry significant value. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 In fish, the cloaca is a single orifice that handles excretion (both urine and fecal material) as well as reproduction. John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reproduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproduction
Noun
  • If that’s any indication of the deliciousness of her recipes, who wouldn’t want to get a copy of her cookbook this very second?
    L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Bible sales through August 2025 reached 10 million copies, marking an increase of more than one million compared to the same period last year, according to BookScan.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Her father had bought it at the county fair; the vender, mistaking it for yet another replica Native ceremonial mask, had all but given it away.
    David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The model rocket that currently sits atop the Baltimore Avenue building is a replica of the Moonliner II placed there after the building was refurbished in the early 2000s to resemble the red and white motif of the former TWA headquarters.
    Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproduction. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduction

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