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 The royal children after Louise have worn a replica of the gown for their royal christenings, including ceremonies for Prince George and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 The sailing yacht is a replica of the legendary 20th-century schooner Elena. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026 Depicting Washington on horseback during the Revolutionary War, the original monument has been there since 1904, and is actually a replica of one gifted to France. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 There are many classic attractions, like Tilt-A-Whirl, antique cars featuring replica 20th century Model T vehicles, and an over 50-year-old Haunted Mansion dark ride. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • But there is a deeper question of why a modern tech company, especially an AI company, would need to soften their image with cotton and canvas.
    T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Granted, save for one image on a TV screen, no one wears a Green Lantern mask or outfit in the Lanterns pilot, but the wheels of its story have been in motion for decades by the time its premise unfolds.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Somehow this abstract understanding exists alongside, or by means of, the objects in the waiting room—a paper cup from the water cooler, or a copy of People magazine.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The album went on to sell more than two million copies and remains beloved by fans today.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Women carrying twins or more babies at once also had substantially higher rates than those carrying one baby.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Taken together, these inputs—real geometry, real traffic, and each vehicle’s live GPS position—constitute what network researchers call a digital twin of the urban environment.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The seller, parkviewandbarn, identifies the lamp as a reproduction.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Modern reproductions and vintage Tiffany lamps for sale through dealers and online marketplaces let homeowners borrow the color, warm glow and statement-making quality of Tiffany without owning an authentic Tiffany Studios piece.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • If a service is easy to copy, many clones appear and competition grows.
    Filip Borcov, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The irony, of course, is that this clone looks nothing like the source material.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Striker is one of several compounding pharmacies that have made imitation retatrutide identified by CBS News in a June investigation.
    Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That logic matters for retailers because beauty is highly compatible with cultural imitation.
    Darko Pavic, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In practice, Ogunyemi argues, only a small number of people may regularly take advantage of an open-door policy, leaving leaders with an incomplete picture of what is happening across the organization.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, Dorothea Lange’s 1936 picture of migrant Florence Owens Thompson and her children, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic photographs of the Dust Bowl period of the Great Depression.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Application streamlining, like preventing duplicates and simplifying the online system, may also help.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While the original 29 code talkers who created the unbreakable code received Congressional Gold Medals, subsequent Code Talker graduates received the silver duplicate.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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