reduplication

noun

re·​du·​pli·​ca·​tion ri-ˌdü-pli-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce reduplication (audio)
ˌrē-,
-ˈdyü-
1
: an act or instance of doubling or reiterating
2
a
: an often grammatically functional repetition of a radical element or a part of it occurring usually at the beginning of a word and often accompanied by change of the radical vowel
b(1)
: a word or form produced by reduplication
(2)
: the repeated element in such a word or form
3
reduplicative
ri-ˈdü-pli-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce reduplication (audio)
ˌrē-
-ˈdyü-
adjective
reduplicatively adverb

Examples of reduplication in a Sentence

that old-looking colonial mansion is actually a 20th-century reduplication of the original, which was destroyed many years ago ever since I was forced to do a reduplication of a day's work, I've been more conscientious about hitting my computer's “save” button
Recent Examples on the Web TikTok is a compound word that’s called (take a deep breath) an ablaut-shift reduplication because only the internal vowel changes. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024 The collection, dubbed with another fun reduplication, Bon Bon, was inspired by the packaging for the Apple AirPods. Leilani Marie Labong, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reduplication.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reduplication was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near reduplication

Cite this Entry

“Reduplication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reduplication. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

reduplication

noun
re·​du·​pli·​ca·​tion ri-ˌd(y)ü-pli-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce reduplication (audio)
ˌrē-
: an act or instance of doubling or repeating : duplication
reduplicative adjective

Medical Definition

reduplication

noun
re·​du·​pli·​ca·​tion ri-ˌd(y)ü-pli-ˈkā-shən, ˌrē- How to pronounce reduplication (audio)
: an act or instance of doubling
reduplication of the chromosomes

More from Merriam-Webster on reduplication

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