Definition of reproductionnext

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 The recovered version is not an original print but a reproduction several generations removed — a common reality for surviving films from the era. Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026 No Other Copies Are Known to Exist Today The version uncovered is not an original print but a reproduction several generations removed, likely the result of early film duplication practices. Ryan Brennan april 20, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 The missile site is where Cove and Dixon’s fellow biologists have used camera traps to film pythons preying on the endangered species, which have much lower reproduction rates than the invasive Asian black rats common to Florida. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026 Research on oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico has also shown that exposure to oil can reduce fish reproduction, Grosell added. Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reproduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproduction
Noun
  • Knapp’s wife, Grace Knapp, was presented with a copy of the commemorative street sign.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • There was a stack of six advanced reader copies of my own book.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For an all-important sit-down dinner set inside Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper Museum, a team of Italian scenic painters—led by a woman who manages backdrops for an opera in Rome—built and painted a replica on a local soundstage that was about ¾ the size of the original.
    Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
  • This 24-pack of Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs is a near-exact replica of the chocolate frog Ron ate with Harry on their first train ride to Hogwarts in The Sorcerer’s Stone.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproduction. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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