replication

American  

[rep-li-key-shuhn] / ˌrɛp lɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a reply; answer.

2. a reply to an answer.

3. Law. the reply of the plaintiff or complainant to the defendant's plea or answer.

4. reverberation; echo.

5. a copy.

6. the act or process of replicating, especially for experimental purposes.

7. Genetics. semiconservative replication.

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Other Word Forms

• nonreplication noun

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; replicate, -ion

Example Sentences

By contrast, Bennett and Brassard's theory - known as BB84 - shows that any attempt to hack or copy their quantum encryption key changes the very behaviour of its elements, making replication impossible.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Have you taken any steps to trademark it or even license it for AI replication someday?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

The most important thing, Walden said, is to avoid mere replication — both of the nominated films’ scores and of the featured performance numbers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

While both drugs target the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme to prevent viral replication, they do so through entirely different biochemical pathways.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Moss did his best to keep his mind on the intricacies of cell replication until four, when Mrs. Hernandez had to close things up.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• reproduction