replication
Americannoun
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a reply to an answer.
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Law. the reply of the plaintiff or complainant to the defendant's plea or answer.
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a copy.
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the act or process of replicating, especially for experimental purposes.
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Genetics. semiconservative replication.
noun
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a reply or response
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law (formerly) the plaintiff's reply to a defendant's answer or plea
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biology the production of exact copies of complex molecules, such as DNA molecules, that occurs during growth of living organisms
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repetition of a procedure, such as a scientific experiment, in order to reduce errors
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a less common word for replica
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of replication
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English replicacioun, from Middle French replication, from Latin replicātiōn- (stem of replicātiō ) “a rolling back,” equivalent to replicāt(us) + -iōn- suffix forming nouns; see origin at replicate, -ion
Explanation
If you make a copy of something, like a form or a picture, you have made a replication of it. You might need to mail in a replication of your tax forms when you apply for college financial aid. When you conduct an experiment, you have to repeat it several times to verify that your hypothesis is correct. Each repetition is one replication. A witty retort to a comment or question is also called a replication. Your replications to the teacher's questions may make your classmates laugh, but your smart mouth is bound to get you in trouble eventually.
Vocabulary lists containing replication
Genetics - Inheritance and Variation of Traits
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Genetics - High School
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STAAR Biology: Mechanisms of Genetics
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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.
Significant mutations would likely disrupt replication, making the structure a potentially stable drug target across many enteroviruses.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
Mirroring the fashions of previous generations, known as "image replication", is a tactic that North Korean leaders have employed to retain power.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Indeed, the Science paper is an important replication of Goodall’s work, but its authors do not argue that humans wage war because that’s just who we are.
From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026
"China has moved beyond a replication economy," Tim Parkinson of consultancy Storytellers China notes.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
Under this scheme, gene replication starts with the separation of its two identical chains.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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.
