duplicate

1 of 3

adjective

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
1
: consisting of or existing in two corresponding or identical parts or examples
duplicate invoices
2
: being the same as another
duplicate copies

duplicate

2 of 3

verb

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
duplicated; duplicating

transitive verb

1
: to make double or twofold
2
a
: to make a copy of
a cell duplicates itself when it divides
b
: to produce something equal to
trying to duplicate last year's success
c
: to do over or again often needlessly
duplicated effort

intransitive verb

: to become duplicated
also : repeat
duplicative
ˈdü-pli-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
adjective

duplicate

3 of 3

noun

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
1
a
: either of two things exactly alike and usually produced at the same time or by the same process
b
: an additional copy of something (such as a book or stamp) already in a collection
2
: one that resembles or corresponds to another : counterpart
3
: two identical copies
used in the phrase in duplicate
Choose the Right Synonym for duplicate

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 duplicate in a Sentence

Adjective I began receiving duplicate copies of the magazine every month. I had a duplicate key made. Verb She duplicated the video to give to family and friends. Unfortunately, the results of the first study could not be duplicated. Noun In case you lose your keys, keep a set of duplicates somewhere safe. doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That meant those who had older driver's licenses, but later ordered a duplicate license, slipped through the cracks and essentially bypassed the proof of citizenship requirement. Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2024 Care cannot be provided and a child is put at risk when a school and other adults maintain duplicate records or use one name in school, and another with parents to hide gender dysphoria. State Reps. Mark Anderson, R-62; Anne Dauphinais; R-44; Joe Hoxha, R-78; Donna Veach, R-30., Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Those were duplicated and deposited into several different bank branches on the same day. Allbusiness, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 The conditions Tuesday are likely to be duplicated on Wednesday. Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
If an antlered deer is tested and registered positive for CWD, the hunter will receive a replacement good statewide and, if the deer is antlerless, the hunter will receive a duplicate of the same tag for the same region. Jon Styf | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Sep. 2024 Set a cutoff date to exclude outdated information and focus on a clean migration to avoid duplicates and format inconsistencies. David Strausser, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for duplicate 

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin duplicatus, past participle of duplicare to double, from duplic-, duplex

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of duplicate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near duplicate

Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duplicate. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

duplicate

1 of 3 adjective
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
1
: having two parts exactly the same or alike
2
: being the same as another

duplicate

2 of 3 verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
1
: to make double
2
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative adjective

duplicate

3 of 3 noun
ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət
: a thing that is exactly like another

Medical Definition

duplicate

intransitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to become duplicate : replicate
DNA in chromosomes duplicates

Legal Definition

duplicate

1 of 2 transitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative adjective

duplicate

2 of 2 noun
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
: either of two things exactly alike and often produced at the same time
specifically : a counterpart identified in the Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 1001 as produced by the same impression as the original or from the same matrix or by means of photography, mechanical, or electronic rerecording, chemical reproduction, or another technique which accurately reproduces the original compare original

More from Merriam-Webster on duplicate

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