replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈre-pli-kə 

1

: an exact reproduction (as of a painting) executed by the original artist

a replica of this was painted … this year

—Constance Strachey

2

: a copy exact in all details

DNA makes a replica of itself

sailed a replica of the Viking ship

broadly : copy

this faithful, pathetic replica of a Midwestern suburb

—G. F. Kennan

Synonyms

• alter ego
• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• counterpart
• doppelgänger
• doppelganger
• double
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• fetch
• image
• likeness
• look-alike
• match
• mirror image
• picture
• ringer
• spit
• spitting image
• twin

Choose the Right Synonym for replica

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another.

reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details

a replica of the Mayflower

but not always in the same scale.

miniature replicas of classic cars

Examples of replica in a Sentence

We toured a replica of the ship.

It's an authentic replica of an ancient Greek urn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran’s military displayed replicas of some of its missiles at the square. —Nasser Karimi, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025

Visitors can study Iron Age artifacts from the Caucasus territories, an exact replica of the Gallery in Rome’s Papal Palace and one of the world’s largest collections of paintings from Flemish artists like Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. —Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025

Not long after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV in 2020, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought a replica Lombardi Trophy for one of his favorite bars. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025

Inside, life-size videos of Saints owner Gayle Benson and Gov. Jeff Landry greet visitors, as does a 15-foot replica of a NASA rocket, evoking the Michoud facility just down I-10. —Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "repetition, reply, copy of a work of art," noun derivative of replicare "to repeat, reply," borrowed from Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at replicate entry 1

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈrep-li-kə 

1

: a close reproduction especially by the maker of the original

2

: a copy exact in all details : duplicate