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

There were quite large numbers of human cases, despite restricted replication of the virus around the globe. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024

Yet in some cases, the virus takes off by rapid replication in host cells. —Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024

Much like your sales department may link a closed sale to its originating lead for replication and continued success, procurement teams should attribute cost savings to specific actions. —Edmund Zagorin, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

Although the authors determined that their study nonetheless had sufficient statistical power to detect a potential effect of a similar magnitude to the ones seen in previous research, replication will be critical here. —Ars Contributors, Ars Technica, 21 Sep. 2023

The meticulous replication is coming to the Bonhams|Cars Amelia Island Auction at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on Amelia Island, Fla., on February 29—one of the major events surrounding the Amelia concours from Hagerty. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 19 Feb. 2024

And with more rounds of replication, C's can switch to U's (or T's in DNA coding). —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2023

The bring-your-own-model culture of sharing breeds direct replication of cutting-edge advances that proprietary groups wouldn't reveal behind closed doors. —Runde 'perseus' Yang, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

Then the entire production manifest is sent to partner factories in Bangladesh or Vietnam that are equipped with identical machines and materials, ensuring precise replication even when production is ramped up by a factor of thousands. —Time, 13 Nov. 2023

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

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