Synonym Chooser

How does the noun reproduction differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reproduction are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and replica. While all these words 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

When might copy be a better fit than reproduction?

In some situations, the words copy and reproduction are roughly equivalent. However, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When would duplicate be a good substitute for reproduction?

The meanings of duplicate and reproduction largely overlap; however, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace reproduction?

The synonyms facsimile and reproduction are sometimes interchangeable, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to reproduction?

While the synonyms replica and reproduction are close in meaning, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of reproduction Visually, the screen impresses with strong brightness, vivid contrast, and rich color reproduction. PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025 While scientists long suspected this energetic transformation was key to reproduction, how sperm powered this transition was unclear until now. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025 That difference is felt primarily in the color reproduction, which is simply stunning — the range and depth of colors in the VistaVision print were far greater than in any other format. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2025 Another, the cost of reproduction hypothesis, suggests that carrying and delivering a child, and providing parental care, can come with a survival cost, according to the study. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reproduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproduction
Noun
  • Costco, though, was a shrewd recombination of what had come before rather than a straight copy.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • While those films were burned, what the West never knew was that those were not the only copies of these films as Hesse had stored the vast majority of the originals safely in London, away from the political upheaval.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In his fourth professional season, Watson’s offensive role off the bench is likely to expand beyond the baseline, where he’s been used in the past as both a corner spot-up shooter and an Aaron Gordon dunker spot replica.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Not a full-size kitchen, of course, but rather a miniature replica of a kitchen, a tiny kitchen with a tiny table where two tiny dolls sit, blank-eyed and smiling and ready to eat an invisible meal.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproduction. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduction

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