reproduction

noun

re·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce reproduction (audio)
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.
But the law of plantation reproduction revolved around profit. Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 De Souza, a journalist in Philadelphia, now wishes that class had included the basics of fertility and reproduction. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 21 Sep. 2025 In the first section, a stone wall decoration reveals the earliest sculpture of a horse found in East Asia while a reproduction of the walls of the Chinese city of Shimao offers many animal-like images. Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 Without this abundance, reproduction rates fall, cub survival drops, and entire ecosystems can shift. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reproduction. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

reproduction

noun
re·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce reproduction (audio)
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 How to pronounce reproduction (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduction

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