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 Seventeen were replaced with reproductions or facsimiles, while three were taken off view. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for facsimile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facsimile
Noun
  • Fitting that there are dinosaur replicas towering over the lobby that leads straight through the building.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Moreau made a tool to measure the depth and heights of the wards, to make a replica of what the original key probably looked like.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cyberpunk 2077, which has sold more than 40 million copies, is an open-world action-adventure set in Night City, a megalopolis driven by power, glamour and body modification.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Now, with over 400 million copies sold, the series has been widely adapted into TV shows and films, including one starring actor Jack Black.
    — Kat Tran October 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The image is then precision-fabricated into a 3D model that’s finished by hand — all for $2,200, about the national average of an actual wedding gown.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This sort of puzzling connection between text and image is repeated throughout the exhibition.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Male zebrafish develop special structures on their pectoral fins that help with reproduction.
    — Junsu Kang, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
  • This exhibit displays body parts and specimens crucial to human development and reproduction.
    — Emma Hall October 3, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Despite increasingly critical media coverage of AI and the spread of data centers across the US, one news network has been painting a more positive picture.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This one is going to make some waves in the rankings, in the Big Ten standings, and the College Football Playoff picture.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Instead of crossing over into the afterlife, Billy, the magically inclined twin, transferred his soul into the body of William Kaplan, a teenager who had just been involved in a fatal car crash.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The platform, dubbed Forge Cognition, uses artificial intelligence agents and real-time digital twins to help operators improve asset reliability, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort across existing systems and facilities.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The device captures troves of card information, which thieves later collect in order to clone cards.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building an AI clone of himself that is trained on his tone and mannerisms and can answer staff questions.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The work, known as the Tondo of the Two Brothers, dates back to the 2nd century and belongs to a group of paintings known as the Fayum portraits.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Filmmaker Ava DuVernay chose Milton Rogovin’s informal, untitled portrait of a beautiful young Buffalo woman from his East Side, 1961-63 collection.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Facsimile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facsimile. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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