replacement
B2Neutral to formal. Common in technical, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person or thing that takes the place of another that has been removed, lost, or is no longer functioning or available.
The action or process of replacing someone or something; in mathematics, an operation where one item is substituted for another; in sports, a substitute player; in chemistry, a reaction where one element displaces another.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a degree of functional equivalence. It can refer to both the act (the process) and the entity (the substitute).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage patterns are nearly identical. In sports contexts, 'substitute' is more common in BrE, while 'replacement' is used in both. In medical contexts (e.g., joint replacement), usage is identical.
Connotations
Identical. Both carry neutral to slightly technical connotations.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpora, but the difference is negligible.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
replacement for [NP]replacement of [NP] (with [NP])in replacement of [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like-for-like replacement”
- “A drop-in replacement”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to hiring a new employee to fill a vacated role or procuring a new supplier.
Academic
Used in statistics (sampling with/without replacement), chemistry (single displacement reactions), and engineering.
Everyday
Commonly used for broken items, changing batteries, or substituting ingredients in a recipe.
Technical
In computing, refers to updating software components or hardware; in medicine, refers to prosthetic implants.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- We ordered a replacement battery for the remote.
- The replacement goalkeeper made a crucial save.
American English
- We need a replacement part for the dishwasher.
- The replacement teacher was very experienced.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a replacement for my lost key.
- The shop gave me a replacement toy because the first one was broken.
- We are looking for a replacement for our manager who is retiring.
- After the accident, he needed a hip replacement.
- The new software is a direct replacement for the outdated system.
- Sampling without replacement can affect the probability of subsequent draws.
- The company's aggressive strategy involved the systematic replacement of all legacy hardware.
- In a single displacement reaction, zinc acts as a replacement for copper in the solution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-PLACE-MENT: putting something new in the PLACE of the old again (RE-).
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS SUBSTITUTION, SYSTEMS ARE BODIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'replacement' for 'change' in the sense of 'small coins' (that's 'мелочь').
- Do not confuse with 'replacement therapy' (заместительная терапия) and 'substitution' which can be synonyms, but 'replacement' is more physical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'replacement of' when 'replacement for' is more idiomatic for a substitute (e.g., 'a replacement for John' not 'of John').
- Misspelling as 'replacemEnt' or 'replacment'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'replacement' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can refer to people, abstract concepts, or processes (e.g., 'replacement of outdated laws').
'Replacement' often implies a more permanent or official taking over of a function, while 'substitute' can be temporary. They are largely interchangeable.
No, the verb form is 'replace'. 'Replacement' is solely a noun.
Use 'for' to indicate what is being substituted ('a replacement for the tyre'). Use 'of' to indicate the act of replacing ('the replacement of the tyre was quick').
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