replacement

American  

[ri-pleys-muhnt] / rɪˈpleɪs mənt /

noun

1. the act of replacing.

2. a person or thing that replaces another.

   summer replacements for vacationing staff; a replacement for a broken dish.

3. Military. a sailor, soldier, or airman assigned to fill a vacancy in a military unit.

4. Also called metasomatism.  Geology. the process of practically simultaneous removal and deposition by which a new mineral grows in the body of an old one.

---

replacement British  

/ rɪˈpleɪsmənt /

noun

1. the act or process of replacing

2. a person or thing that replaces another

3. geology the growth of a mineral within another of different chemical composition by gradual simultaneous deposition and removal

4. Also called: petrification.  a process of fossilization by gradual substitution of mineral matter for the original organic matter

---

Other Word Forms

• nonreplacement noun

Etymology

Origin of replacement

First recorded in 1780–90; replace + -ment

Example Sentences

Taylor also worries about the town's old sewage systems, established in 1962 and in need of replacement for 20 years, he said.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Gen. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal criminal defense attorney, will serve as acting attorney general until a permanent replacement is named.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Whether the price increases prove temporary will depend on how long the Iran conflict lasts and the new level of replacement tariffs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Chia seeds are a nutrient-dense replacement for eggs, meaning you can make plant-based cookies and even plant-based mayo.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Felix whipped out his replacement debit card and dropped it on the desk.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

• reinstatement
• restoration
• stand-in