replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈre-pli-kə 

1

: an exact reproduction (as of a painting) executed by the original artist

a replica of this was painted … this year

—Constance Strachey

2

: a copy exact in all details

DNA makes a replica of itself

sailed a replica of the Viking ship

broadly : copy

this faithful, pathetic replica of a Midwestern suburb

—G. F. Kennan

Synonyms

• image
• twin
• clone
• picture
• duplicate
• portrait
• counterpart

Choose the Right Synonym for replica

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 replica in a Sentence

We toured a replica of the ship.

It's an authentic replica of an ancient Greek urn.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Paris digs are infinitely sleeker, dimly lit, and darkly appointed, but the food is more or less an exact replica. —Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025

In his fourth professional season, Watson’s offensive role off the bench is likely to expand beyond the baseline, where he’s been used in the past as both a corner spot-up shooter and an Aaron Gordon dunker spot replica. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025

Not a full-size kitchen, of course, but rather a miniature replica of a kitchen, a tiny kitchen with a tiny table where two tiny dolls sit, blank-eyed and smiling and ready to eat an invisible meal. —Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025

The other challenge for Hawke was the fact that the film was all largely shot in one location, a Sardi’s replica built in Dublin. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "repetition, reply, copy of a work of art," noun derivative of replicare "to repeat, reply," borrowed from Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at replicate entry 1

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈrep-li-kə 

1

: a close reproduction especially by the maker of the original

2

: a copy exact in all details : duplicate