replacement
/rɪˈpleɪsmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈpleɪsmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈplās-mənt/ (ame, mw)
replacement — noun
- replacementsingular
- replacementsplural
1. the act of taking away something old or broken and putting a new thing in its pl
the act of taking away something old or broken and putting a new thing in its place, especially when the new thing works better or is more modern
The replacement of old streetlights with LED lamps saved the city a lot of money.
replacement of [X] with [Y]
After the storm, the replacement of the damaged roof tiles took several days.
Car manufacturers recommend regular replacement of air filters to keep engines clean.
Replacement of printed boarding passes with digital ones has made airport check-in faster.
- substitution
more formal and technical; often used in mathematics, science, or formal contexts
- changeover
more informal; emphasises the switch from one system or thing to another
- retention
keeping something instead of replacing it
文法句型
replacement of [something]
replacement with [something]
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' to name what is taken away, and 'with' or 'by' to name what is put in its place. The word is usually uncountable when referring to the general process.
常見錯誤
2. a surgical procedure where a damaged body joint gets removed and a man-made vers
a surgical procedure where a damaged body joint gets removed and a man-made version is fitted in its place, helping the person move around without pain
Cyrus's grandmother had a hip replacement last year and can now walk without pain.
hip replacement / knee replacement — specific joint names
Doctors say knee replacement surgery can help people with long-term joint pain.
The number of hip replacements has grown as more older people stay active longer.
After her knee replacement, Beatriz did physical therapy twice a week to regain strength.
- arthroplasty
the formal medical term for joint replacement surgery; too technical for everyday use
文法句型
[body part] replacement
replacement surgery
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by a body-part name: 'hip replacement', 'knee replacement', 'shoulder replacement'. 'Joint replacement' is a general term. The word 'surgery' is often added: 'knee replacement surgery'.
常見錯誤
3. a person hired to take over a role that someone else previously held, or an obje
a person hired to take over a role that someone else previously held, or an object used when the original one is missing, damaged, or no longer good enough
The company hired a temporary replacement for Yan while she was on maternity leave.
temporary replacement + for
I used my old phone as a replacement until I could buy a new one.
use [something] as a replacement
Greta worked as a replacement teacher at three different schools last term.
Finding a suitable replacement for the retiring manager has taken the company several weeks.
Saira ordered a replacement part for her broken bicycle from an online store.
- substitute
more general; can be used for both people and things, and also functions as a verb
- stand-in
informal; used mainly for a person temporarily doing someone else's job or role
- understudy
specifically for an actor who learns another actor's role in a theatre production
- backup
informal; emphasises having someone or something ready if needed
- original
the first or earliest version of something that gets replaced
文法句型
replacement for [someone/something]
work as a replacement
用法筆記
Can refer to both people ('a replacement for the receptionist') and objects ('a replacement for the broken lamp'). The preposition 'for' is used to name who or what is being replaced. Do not confuse with 'substitute', which can be followed by 'for' as well but is also used as a verb more freely.
常見錯誤
4. a player who enters a game to take the place of another player on the same team,
a player who enters a game to take the place of another player on the same team, usually after the game has already started
Ari came on as a replacement in the second half and scored the winning goal.
come on as a replacement in sports
The coach made three replacements in the final ten minutes of the match.
The team needed a strong replacement ready to play after a player got injured.
Madison joined the national team as a replacement after the starting forward got sick.
- substitute
the more common term in sports contexts; 'sub' is the informal short form
- bench player
refers to a player who is available on the bench to replace others
- starter
a player who begins the game on the field or court
文法句型
come on as a replacement
join [team] as a replacement
用法筆記
In team sports, this is also called a 'substitute'. 'Off the bench' is a common phrase used alongside this sense. The number of replacements allowed per game varies by sport (e.g., five in basketball, three in soccer).