duplicate
C1Formal and neutral. Common in technical, administrative, and everyday contexts where copying or replication is discussed.
Definition
Meaning
An exact copy of something; to make an exact copy of something.
Can refer to something that is identical in every detail, or to the act of reproducing that thing. It implies a one-to-one correspondence with the original.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it emphasizes the result—the copy itself. As a verb, it emphasizes the process of copying. Can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation when implying unnecessary repetition (e.g., 'duplicate effort').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Spelling is identical. Usage in legal/phrasal contexts like 'in duplicate' (two copies) is standard in both.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. In technical contexts (computing, science), it is the standard term.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
DUPLICATE somethingBE duplicated (passive)DUPLICATE something ON something (e.g., duplicate data on a drive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in duplicate (prepared in two identical copies)”
- “a duplicate of (an exact copy of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to copying documents, data, or efforts. 'We need to avoid duplicate payments.'
Academic
Used in research to warn against publishing the same findings twice ('duplicate publication'). In experiments, to ensure reproducibility.
Everyday
Making a spare key, having a backup copy of a photo, finding two identical items.
Technical
In computing: duplicate files, database records. In biology: chromosome duplication.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please duplicate this report for the committee.
- The system automatically duplicates the data for backup.
- We must not duplicate the work already done.
American English
- Can you duplicate this key for me?
- The software duplicates the folder structure.
- Their research duplicated earlier findings.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used as a standalone adverb. Typically in phrasal/prepositional use: 'filed in duplicate'.
American English
- Rarely used as a standalone adverb. Typically in phrasal/prepositional use: 'submitted in duplicate'.
adjective
British English
- He was issued with a duplicate passport.
- A duplicate invoice was sent by mistake.
- Check for duplicate entries in the database.
American English
- She kept a duplicate set of keys in her office.
- We received a duplicate payment by error.
- The lab ran the test on duplicate samples.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a duplicate of my house key.
- I have a duplicate photo on my computer.
- Please make a duplicate of this document before you send it.
- The two keys were perfect duplicates.
- The scientist worked to duplicate the experimental results in a different lab.
- Duplicate records in the database caused the system error.
- The artist was accused of duplicating the style of her mentor without adding innovation.
- To ensure validity, all samples were analyzed in duplicate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DUPLI-' as 'double' or 'two' (like duo). A duplicate is a 'two-plicate' – a second, identical version.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLONING (creating an identical entity), MIRRORING (reflecting exactly), STAMPING (producing identical impressions from a mold).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'дублировать' (которое может означать 'заменять' или 'дублировать роль'), в английском 'duplicate' строго о создании копии. 'Duplicate' как прилагательное — 'идентичный', а не просто 'дополнительный'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'duplicate' to mean 'similar' or 'analogous' (it must be *identical*). Confusing verb pronunciation (/keɪt/) with noun/adjective (/kət/). Misspelling as 'duplicite' or 'dupplicate'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'duplicate' used correctly as a VERB?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It can be digital (a duplicate file), abstract (duplicate effort), or conceptual (duplicate results). The core idea is exact correspondence, not physicality.
'Duplicate' strongly implies an exact, indistinguishable replica, often made with intent. 'Copy' is broader; it can be less precise (e.g., a rough copy) and is more common in everyday language.
The noun/adjective has stress on the first syllable and ends in /kət/ (DU-pli-kət). The verb also has first-syllable stress but ends in /keɪt/ (DU-pli-kate). This stress shift is common in English (e.g., record, present).
Yes, particularly in phrases like 'duplicate work' or 'duplicate effort,' which imply wasted time and resources by doing the same thing twice unnecessarily.