Definition of DUPLICATE
- ️Sat Mar 29 2025
1
: consisting of or existing in two corresponding or identical parts or examples
2
: being the same as another
1
: to make double or twofold
2
a
: to make a copy of
a cell duplicates itself when it divides
b
: to produce something equal to
trying to duplicate last year's success
c
: to do over or again often needlessly
1
a
: either of two things exactly alike and usually produced at the same time or by the same process
b
: an additional copy of something (such as a book or stamp) already in a collection
2
: one that resembles or corresponds to another : counterpart
3
: two identical copies —used in the phrase in duplicate
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for duplicate
reproductions from the museum's furniture collection
duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.
a duplicate of a house key
copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.
printed 1000 copies of the lithograph
facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.
a facsimile of a rare book
replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details
a replica of the Mayflower
but not always in the same scale.
miniature replicas of classic cars
Examples of duplicate in a Sentence
Adjective
I began receiving duplicate copies of the magazine every month. I had a duplicate key made. Verb
She duplicated the video to give to family and friends. Unfortunately, the results of the first study could not be duplicated. Noun
In case you lose your keys, keep a set of duplicates somewhere safe. doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Being caught with duplicate content may lead to severe consequences, up to expulsion.
—
Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025
Starting with iOS 16, the Photos app on your iPhone automatically detects duplicate photos and videos, organizing them into a Duplicates album located in the Utilities section.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2025
Some moon images had to be duplicated and adjusted slightly to maintain the natural progression.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025
But Snow White also had commercial appeal in a way that seemed to flummox Disney, and that took him a while to figure out how to duplicate.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 21 Mar. 2025
Clones are as much a sci-fi staple as robots, spaceships, and time travel, with every major franchise dabbling with duplicates somewhere down the line.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Fans painstakingly catalogue their collections, trade duplicates, and share creative DIY modifications.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Latin duplicatus, past participle of duplicare to double, from duplic-, duplex
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of duplicate was in the 15th century
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duplicate. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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Last Updated: 29 Mar 2025 - Updated example sentences
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