replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌre-plə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: answer, reply

b(1)

: an answer to a reply : rejoinder

(2)

: a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's plea, answer, or counterclaim

2

: echo, reverberation

3

a

: copy, reproduction

b

: the action or process of reproducing or duplicating

replication of DNA

viral replication

4

: performance of an experiment or procedure more than once

Synonyms

• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• copy
• dummy
• dupe
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• imitation
• mock
• reduplication
• replica
• reproduction

Examples of replication in a Sentence

bought a smaller and cheaper replication of the marble statue for his garden

we'll need to do a replication of that experiment so we can collect more data

Recent Examples on the Web

As part of replication, backup, and recovery act as a critical safety net, so that systems can be quickly restored in the event of failure, cyberattack, data loss or corruption. —Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Acton Academy’s growth to over 300 schools showcases the potential for replication but also highlights the pitfalls of decentralized management. —Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Typically, during the replication and spread of the virus, the child does not feel sick. —Emily Baumgaertner Nunn, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

Suppressing viral genome replication and viral protein expression 5. —Marley Hall, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English replicacioun "answer, rejoinder, argument, repetition," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French replicacion "answer to an argument or statement of an opponent," borrowed from Late Latin replicātiōn-, replicātiō "act of bending or folding, repetition, reply, replication in court," going back to Latin, "contrary rotation, replication," from replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at replicate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for replication

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌrep-lə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: very exact copying or duplication

2

: an act or process of copying or duplication

Medical Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌrep-lə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the action or process of reproducing or duplicating

replication of DNA

2

: performance of an experiment or procedure more than once

Legal Definition

replication

noun

rep·​li·​ca·​tion ˌre-plə-ˈkā-shən 

: reply

Etymology

Anglo-French, from Middle French, from Late Latin replicatio, from Latin, action of folding back, from replicare to fold back