duplicative

American  

[doo-pli-key-tiv, dyoo-] / ˈdu plɪˌkeɪ tɪv, ˈdju- /

adjective

1. involving duplication, especially unnecessary repetition of effort or resources.

   The report will highlight examples of wasteful or duplicative spending.

   The new “No-Hassle” rule eliminates duplicative luggage screening requirements for passengers originating from certain airports.

2. done the same way more than once; effectively identical.

   A new law allows state agencies to ignore records requests they deem to be duplicative or substantially similar to previous requests.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonduplicative
  adjective
• unduplicative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of duplicative

First recorded in 1820–30; duplicat(e) ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

duplicative

The tax would start small — perhaps just 1% on the revenues, deductions and assets passed between entities — but would compound with every duplicative layer of ownership.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

“We think it creates a duplicative process,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

Over the past few weeks, X let go of more than 20 staffers in nontechnical roles including marketing and other departments that were seen as duplicative to jobs inside the merged company, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

Combined with China’s anti-involution drive, there will be a focus on reducing wasteful and duplicative investment while improving synergies and building on China’s long-term strategic direction.

From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026

Teapot did not end the debate in Washington over the country’s two duplicative bomb labs.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik