duplicative
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of duplicative
First recorded in 1820–30; duplicat(e) ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Trying to have separate point solutions for various parts of the shopping process meant that sometimes various teams were spending money and resources on duplicative things, according to Pavlovich.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
“We think it creates a duplicative process,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
