reproduction

American  

[ree-pruh-duhk-shuhn] / ˌri prəˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

reproductions plural

1. the act or process of reproducing.

2. the state of being reproduced.

3. something made by reproducing an original; copy; duplicate.

   a photographic reproduction; a reproduction of a Roman vase.

   Synonyms:

   facsimile, replica

4. Biology. the natural process among organisms by which new individuals are generated and the species perpetuated.

   Synonyms:

   propagation, generation

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reproduction British  

/ ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən /

noun

1. biology any of various processes, either sexual or asexual, by which an animal or plant produces one or more individuals similar to itself

2. 1. an imitation or facsimile of a work of art, esp of a picture made by photoengraving

   2. Sometimes shortened to: repro.  ( as modifier )

      a reproduction portrait

3. the quality of sound from an audio system

   this amplifier gives excellent reproduction

4. the act or process of reproducing

5. the state of being reproduced

6. a revival of an earlier production, as of a play

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reproduction Scientific  

/ rē′prə-dŭk′shən /

1. The process by which cells and organisms produce other cells and organisms of the same kind.

2. ◆ The reproduction of organisms by the union of male and female reproductive cells (gametes) is called sexual reproduction. Many unicellular and most multicellular organisms reproduce sexually.

3. ◆ Reproduction in which offspring are produced by a single parent, without the union of reproductive cells, is called asexual reproduction. The fission (splitting) of bacterial cells and the cells of multicellular organisms by mitosis is a form of asexual reproduction, as is the budding of yeast cells and the generation of clones by runners in plants. Many plants and fungi are capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually, as are some animals, such as sponges and aphids.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreproduction
  noun
• self-reproduction
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reproductions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reproduction

First recorded in 1650–60; re- + production

Explanation

A reproduction of a painting is a copy of the original that looks just like it. The act of reproduction involves making copies or having babies. We won't get into the birds and the bees, but reproduction is the sexual activity of producing offspring, also known as procreation. But reproduction isn't just the act of making babies. It can involve making copies or replications. Similarly, a reproduction is an identical version of something, often artwork. There are many reproductions of Picasso's paintings but in every case, there is only one original and it's worth far more than all the copies combined.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reproduction reproductions

Genetic testing also showed widespread shifts in gene expression affecting the worms' development, metabolism, and reproduction.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

But after two test trips with a full-sized reproduction of the tapestry, the operation appeared a well-oiled machine.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Right now, the barriers of finding a suitable partner, housing costs, healthcare access, childcare availability, and so on may lead to delays in reproduction, which may in turn lead to having fewer children.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

Hochschild emphasized Vance’s hypocrisy and callousness, particularly when it comes to women and reproduction.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

I owned that I was somewhat surprised to hear that Private Williams was so much in favor of reproduction, when his views of our future were so grim.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

In the early 2000s, Norrbotten accounted for roughly two-thirds of all documented wolverine reproductions in Sweden.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

The 1876 centennial also became a great commercial anniversary, with facsimiles and other cheap reproductions widely circulated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

"By registering specific phrases tied to her voice, Swift could potentially challenge not only identical reproductions, but also imitations that are 'confusingly similar,' a key standard in trademark law," he wrote.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

The show opened with a series of violet, green and silver sequined tops in a 1920s style -- reproductions of a bodice designed by early 20th-century French designer Paul Poiret who Anderson namechecked as inspiration.

From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026

We are so accustomed to a naturalistic tradition of accurate reproductions that we expect art to imitate reality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• breeding
• copy
• facsimile
• imitation
• photocopy
• photograph
• picture
• print
• propagation
• recreation
• replica
• replication