verb

replicate

REHP-lih-kayt

verb

To make a copy of something, especially so that it matches the original precisely.

"Scientists tried to replicate the results of the earlier study."

"The artist replicated the painting's brushwork stroke for stroke."

To repeat an experiment or process and get the same outcome.

"The findings couldn't be replicated when other labs ran the same test."

noun

An exact copy or duplicate produced by such a process.

"Each replicate in the trial was tested under identical conditions."

How to Use Replicate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo copy or repeat something so the result matches exactly.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the verb "replicate" with the noun "replica" — a replica is the copy itself, replicate is the act of making one.

Easily confused with

replica →

Common pairings

replicate the results replicate an experiment hard to replicate

more replicate comparative, replicated past tense, replicates plural, replicates singular, most replicate superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Scientists tried to _____ the results of the earlier study.

From Latin replicare, "to fold back" — from re- ("back") plus plicare ("to fold"), the same root behind "reply" and "replica."

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