Definition of replicanext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun replica differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of replica are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," 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

When would copy be a good substitute for replica?

The words copy and replica can be used in similar contexts, but copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When is duplicate a more appropriate choice than replica?

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

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace replica?

While the synonyms facsimile and replica are close in meaning, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would reproduction be a reasonable alternative to replica?

In some situations, the words reproduction and replica are roughly equivalent. However, 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 replica Its replica at CubaNostalgia is very popular because this space, with 2,000 seats, hosts the event’s main concerts. Sarah Moreno may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026 Well, under federal and most state laws, many antique or replica guns aren’t technically considered firearms. Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 Officials at the Volo Museum said they were stunned when a $50 traffic ticket from New York City arrived in the mail accusing their black 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am replica of speeding through Brooklyn on April 22. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 May 2026 Historians aren’t even sure exactly how they were wielded or crafted, so medieval weapons specialist and replica crafter Tod Todeschini decided to investigate for himself. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • Additional images showed an unknown number of snakes curled on top of one another inside a large crate that was placed in the back of an officer’s vehicle.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
  • While Washington was private about his Anglican beliefs and a supporter of religious freedom for all faiths, Christian nationalists have been reviving the image, and with it, the claim that the US is an inherently Christian nation at its origin.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Destinee Adams wrote the copy for this piece.
    Michel Martin, NPR, 13 May 2026
  • Ability to quickly attach physical copies of your work to your records.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • The couple, who are parents to almost 9-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, shared their pieces of advice for their children, which were at completely different ends of the spectrum.
    Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
  • In 2022, Business Insider reported on documents showing that Musk was the father of twins with Zilis.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Remember, plants produce flowers as a means of reproduction.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
  • An eBay seller claimed to have Jeffrey Epstein‘s reproduction of a painting by Kees van Dongen, a Dutch painter who became a part of the Fauvist movement in France during the early 20th century.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • In a final battle, the Darksaber is destroyed, Gideon and his clones are seemingly killed, and the newly united Mandalorians settle back on Mandalore.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2026
  • And while Meta’s future looks more uncertain than ever, Zuckerberg has turned his attention towards building a photorealistic AI clone of himself to make his micromanaging presence omnipresent throughout the company.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • The setup uses two CRX collaborative robots trained through imitation learning, where a human operator first performs the folding task, and the robots learn from those demonstrations.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
  • But the most memorable impressions are rarely straightforward imitations.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Surely there was a time earlier in your life when your financial picture wasn’t so stable.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
  • Lochte had posted a picture of the injection on social media before deleting it.
    Dave Skretta, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Creating a Dayton duplicate is less work for the NCAA, after all.
    Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Once designed, both the dresses and the tuxedo had to be replicated in duplicates to accommodate the stunt doubles and the mess that would ensue while shooting the final scene of the wedding night.
    Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on replica

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster