duplicate

1 of 3

adjective

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
Synonyms of duplicatenext
1
: consisting of or existing in two corresponding or identical parts or examples
duplicate invoices
2
: being the same as another
duplicate copies

duplicate

2 of 3

verb

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
duplicated; duplicating

transitive verb

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
duplicated effort

intransitive verb

: to become duplicated
also : repeat
duplicative
ˈdü-pli-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
adjective

duplicate

3 of 3

noun

du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
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

Adjective

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for duplicate

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica 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

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
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.
Adjective
The Trump administration argued that the email was misinterpreted, stating that the classified documents in question were duplicate records or derived from other sources. — Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Wiesner and Bentel said that their favorite project took place in 2022, when MSCHF sold 1,000 duplicate car keys that unlocked the same one car, a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser parked in an unidentified location in New York City (buyers were required to follow clues to track down the vehicle). — Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Often imitated but never duplicated, this show’s universal influence has stood the test of time more than any other title on this list and continues to be reinterpreted and reinvented for both new fans and older acolytes. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025 With payments of settlements and legal fees, except in clear physical injury cases, most defendants do duplicate reporting, so that a check payable jointly to plaintiff and lawyer will be 100% reported to the plaintiff, and 100% reported to the lawyer. — Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
For the other cases, there were a variety of outcomes, including if an animal was taken into custody, if the call was canceled, if the report was a duplicate or if the case was left open. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025 To make up for this, a free duplicate of the Road to Unova: Raids Timed Research will be granted to all Trainers globally. — Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 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

Phrases Containing duplicate

Browse Nearby Words

duplicate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duplicate. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

duplicate

1 of 3 adjective
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
1
: having two parts exactly the same or alike
2
: being the same as another

duplicate

2 of 3 verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
1
: to make double
2
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative
-ˌkāt-iv How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
adjective

duplicate

3 of 3 noun
ˈd(y)ü-pli-kət
: a thing that is exactly like another

Medical Definition

duplicate

intransitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈd(y)ü-pli-ˌkāt How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to become duplicate : replicate
DNA in chromosomes duplicates

Legal Definition

duplicate

1 of 2 transitive verb
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
duplicated; duplicating
: to make a duplicate of
duplicative
-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
adjective

duplicate

2 of 2 noun
du·​pli·​cate ˈdü-pli-kət, ˈdyü- How to pronounce duplicate (audio)
: either of two things exactly alike and often produced at the same time
specifically : a counterpart identified in the Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 1001 as produced by the same impression as the original or from the same matrix or by means of photography, mechanical, or electronic rerecording, chemical reproduction, or another technique which accurately reproduces the original compare original

More from Merriam-Webster on duplicate

Nglish: Translation of duplicate for Spanish Speakers

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