Synonyms of reproductionnext
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bell replied in his usual jovial manner, agreeing to the reproduction of his photo in the forthcoming article. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 Because of the aphids’ fast reproduction and ability to disperse quickly to other plants, Crumbley recommends focusing on reducing the pest’s harborage sites as opposed to introducing marigolds or other companion plants in the fall. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 Framed reproduction prints from it now hang throughout the house. — Nuriyah Johar, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026 The new Kaleido 4 technology addresses some of Kaleido 3’s shortcomings with improved color reproduction, better contrast, and faster screen refreshes. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reproduction

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reproduction was circa 1640

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Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reproduction. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

reproduction

noun
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
: 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

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