Definition of facsimilenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun facsimile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of facsimile are copy, duplicate, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

When is it sensible to use copy instead of facsimile?

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

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can duplicate be used instead of facsimile?

The synonyms duplicate and facsimile are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When might replica be a better fit than facsimile?

Although the words replica and facsimile have much in common, 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

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of facsimile?

While in some cases nearly identical to facsimile, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 facsimile But baseball is rife with parallels between talented players present and past, and Gant might be Rose’s perfect facsimile. — Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026 Jewett points out that there are plenty of applications, such as drug delivery and diagnostics, that don’t need a cell that fully rebuilds itself but could benefit from a facsimile like the SpudCell. — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 14 July 2026 Reconstruction will not create a facsimile of the original LC-36A, however. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 June 2026 Europa-Park in Rust, Germany A cheeky European facsimile of a famous theme park mouse couple, Europa-Park’s Ed and Edda’s ears will never form an iconic silhouette. — Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for facsimile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facsimile
Noun
  • At the heart of the property sits Ruinas del Mar, a seafood restaurant designed to look like a replica of Aruba's Bushiribana gold mine ruins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The South Side team even had a theme night in August dedicated to the Pope, where fans at Rate Field were given replica papal-style hats featuring the Sox logo in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • These genomes should reflect the full sequence of both chromosome copies and the diversity of the global population, rather than relying on one person or one ancestral group as a universal standard.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • When the Spider swings past a silverish-gray newsstand filled with copies of the Daily Bugle, the frame becomes black-and-white, even in the color version.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Senate passed a bill Monday night that aims to regulate college sports after several court cases in recent years dramatically overhauled NCAA rules and allowed student-athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness, known as NIL.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
  • View gallery - 11 images Ahead of the upcoming fall sales season, smart home robotics brand Narwal has announced an exclusive early access promotion on its flagship robot vacuum and mop system, the Narwal Flow 2.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The abject terror of reproduction was personified by Lamashtu, demoness of the night, drinker of blood, eater of flesh, slayer of children, untimely opener of wombs, ravager of women.
    — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But warmer temperatures favor mosquito reproduction and can mean the transmission season sometimes lasts as late as November, Bella explained.
    — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But the overall picture of religious infighting in 1640s Britain is essential to understanding how some people, especially poorer folk and especially women, found themselves on the wrong side of powerful, pious opponents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This result reveals a mechanism distinct from the conventional picture of particle-antiparticle production and could offer a new way to study phenomena that are otherwise difficult to calculate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • That her means of exit is abandoning her newborn twins is less than sympathetic, but in a different era Cathy would have options beyond a domesticity that never suited her in the first place.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This is where digital twins become useful as decision-validation tools.
    — Amruth Puppala, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In what is considered Clone Saga’s most controversial twist in the books, Ben Reilly at one point is declared the real Spider-Man and Peter Parker the clone — a switch that eventually was reversed after backlash from fans.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Relying on human instinct to catch an AI clone is a losing strategy.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Wiley noted that his role as the painter of President Barack Obama’s official portrait —mentioned by Scavino in a podcast interview—might have something to do with the work’s targeting.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Appeal for leniency Rivera has submitted about 50 letters of support to Damian, filling about 95 pages and presenting a portrait of the former congressman markedly different from the one offered by prosecutors.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Facsimile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facsimile. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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