self-replicating

adjective

self-rep·​li·​cat·​ing ˌself-ˈre-plə-ˌkā-tiŋ How to pronounce self-replicating (audio)
: reproducing itself autonomously
DNA is a self-replicating molecule
self-replication noun

Examples of self-replicating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the extreme, the threat of uncontrolled, self-replicating AGIs—should they be invented in the years to come—would provide strong incentives to coordinate on safety and containment. Ian Bremmer and Mustafa Suleyman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Aug. 2023 Unlike nuclear weapons, bacteria and viruses are self-replicating. William MacAskill, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2022 In 2017, Sandworm released NotPetya, a piece of self-replicating code that spread to networks worldwide and inflicted a record $10 billion in damage. Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2023 Hordes of self-replicating robots popping up everywhere? Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Dec. 2016

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

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-replicating was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near self-replicating

Cite this Entry

“Self-replicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-replicating. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Medical Definition

self-replicating

adjective
self-rep·​li·​cat·​ing -ˈrep-lə-ˌkāt-iŋ How to pronounce self-replicating (audio)
: reproducing itself autonomously
DNA is a self-replicating molecule
self-replication noun
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