duplication

IPA/ˌdjuːplɪˈkeɪʃn/
KK[djˌupləkˈeʃən]IPA/ˌduːplɪˈkeɪʃn/

duplication — noun

  • duplicationsingular
  • duplicationsplural

1. the process of creating something that matches an original exactly, such as a ph

1.nounB2
Definition

the process of creating something that matches an original exactly, such as a photocopy of a document or a copy of a digital file; can also refer to the copy itself

Example

Amani made a duplication of the house key so her sister could let herself in.

collocation: duplication of + physical object

The museum keeps digital duplications of its ancient paintings for research.

collocation: digital duplication

Common collocations
  • duplication of (a key / a document / data / a file)
  • digital duplication
  • DNA duplication
  • avoid duplication
  • prevent duplication
Synonyms
  • copying

    more general; describes the action without emphasising exactness of the result

  • replication

    more formal, often used in scientific or technical contexts (e.g. DNA replication)

  • cloning

    specifically refers to creating an identical biological or digital copy; more specialised

Antonyms
  • original

    the first version from which a duplication is made

Grammar Patterns

duplication of + noun phrase

avoid / prevent + duplication

Usage Note

Often used in computing and office contexts. The verb 'duplicate' is more common than the noun in everyday speech for the action of copying. When referring to the resulting object, 'a duplicate' or 'a copy' is more natural than 'a duplication.'

Common Mistakes

Please make a duplication of this form for our records.
Please make a copy of this form for our records.
'duplication' emphasises the process, not the resulting object; use 'copy' or 'duplicate' for the physical result.
I need a duplication of your signature.
I need a duplicate of your signature.
when the resulting item is meant, use the countable noun 'duplicate.'

2. the situation in which work or a task is performed by someone after it has alrea

2.nounB2
Definition

the situation in which work or a task is performed by someone after it has already been completed by another person, usually wasting time, money, or resources as a result

Example

The two teams found a lot of duplication of effort between their projects.

collocation: duplication of effort

Liang noticed the duplication in their reports and merged the two sections into one.

Common collocations
  • duplication of (effort / work / resources / services)
  • unnecessary duplication
  • avoid duplication
  • reduce duplication
  • eliminate duplication
Synonyms
  • repetition

    more neutral; describes something being done again without necessarily implying waste

  • redundancy

    emphasises the unnecessary nature; common in business contexts (e.g. 'redundancy of roles')

  • overlap

    partial duplication where two things cover the same ground but are not identical

Antonyms
  • efficiency

    doing things with minimum wasted time or effort

Grammar Patterns

duplication of + effort / work

avoid + duplication

unnecessary duplication

Usage Note

Frequently appears in business, project management, and administrative contexts. Common in set phrases such as 'duplication of effort', 'duplication of work', and 'duplication of resources.' Unlike sense 1, this sense always carries a negative implication of waste.

Common Mistakes

There was a duplication of the song on the radio this morning.
There was a repetition of the song on the radio this morning.
'duplication' (sense 2) refers to unnecessary repeated work by different people, not to an event happening again in time.
The duplication of the meeting was very helpful.
The repetition of the meeting was very helpful.' or 'Holding the meeting again was very helpful.
'duplication' implies wasted effort, so it cannot be used positively here.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Duplication, copying, replication, and cloning all describe the creation of something that matches an existing original, but they differ in precision and domain. Copying is the broadest term — you can copy a drawing by hand, copy a file with a keyboard shortcut, or copy someone's behaviour, and the result may be rough rather than exact. Duplication is more specific: it implies an exact, identical match, so that the copy could replace the original without anyone noticing the difference. Replication is more formal and often appears in science (replicating an experiment, DNA replication) where strict adherence to the original method or structure is required. Cloning is the most specialised term; it refers to creating an exact genetic or digital duplicate, for instance cloning a cell in a laboratory or cloning a hard drive. In everyday life, you would duplicate a document or a key, replicate a scientific study, and clone a plant or a phone's storage.

copying ↗replication ↗cloning ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • duplication of effort
  • avoid duplication
  • prevent duplication

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Duplication comes from Latin 'duplicatio', meaning a doubling or folding double, from the verb 'duplicare' (to double), which is built from 'duplex' (twofold, from 'duo' = two + 'plicare' = to fold). The word entered English via French in the late 15th century, originally carrying the sense of 'doubling' or 'making twofold'. Its modern meaning of 'making an exact copy' emerged in the 16th century, and the sense of 'unnecessary repetition' developed in the 19th century as organisations and bureaucracies grew more complex.