reproduction

noun

re·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-shən 

1

: the act or process of reproducing

specifically : the process by which plants and animals give rise to offspring and which fundamentally consists of the segregation of a portion of the parental body by a sexual or an asexual process and its subsequent growth and differentiation into a new individual

2

: something reproduced : copy

3

: young seedling trees in a forest

Synonyms

• copy
• replica

Choose the Right Synonym for reproduction

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 reproduction in a Sentence

the mass reproduction of fine art

a reproduction of the painting

Recent Examples on the Web

Getty Images Warmer temperatures in the English Channel, where the Paluel plant draws from, mean that conditions for jellyfish reproduction are far easier, and there are more swarms present in the water to potentially disrupt the energy network. —Theo Burman shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

One Lego set, discounted at Walmart to its best-ever price, is one of the best space Lego sets – the Lego Technic NASA Lunar Roving Vehicle, which is an incredibly detailed reproduction of the historic NASA buggy that took to the Moon's surface during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 lunar missions. —Paul Brett, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025

What's remarkable is that once a few mosquitoes are infected, the bacteria spread on their own through reproduction, benefiting entire ecosystems without the need for continual intervention. —Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Herbicides also harm honeybees, butterflies, and other pollinators through direct contact and/or through long-term impacts on reproduction and development. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reproduction

• reproduction proof

Rhymes for reproduction

• coproduction
• deconstruction
• introduction
• liposuction
• misconstruction
• postproduction
• preconstruction
• preproduction
• reconstruction
• abduction
• adduction
• conduction

Kids Definition

reproduction

noun

re·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-shən 

1

: the act or process of reproducing

especially : the process by which plants and animals produce offspring

2

: something reproduced : copy

Medical Definition

reproduction

noun

re·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-shən 

: the act or process of reproducing

specifically : the process by which plants and animals give rise to offspring and which fundamentally consists of the segregation of a portion of the parental body by a sexual or an asexual process and its subsequent growth and differentiation into a new individual