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 If historical clothing’s your thing, there are sessions on dyes, making reproductions of historical garb and more. Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2025 Those methods included shipping works to other regions or countries first, storing originals in warehouses or freeports, and displaying high-quality reproductions. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 12 Feb. 2025 The shiny red sports car parked in the living room is a 75% scale reproduction of a vintage Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. Ray Parisi, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2025 These chromosomes impact reproduction and often change and evolve rapidly over time. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reproduction

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproduction. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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