duplication
gb/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/ us/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
action
1
the act of copying something
The act of making one or more exact copies of something.
Usage pattern:
duplication of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "duplication" (the process of copying) with "duplicate" (the copy itself, or the verb meaning to copy). Use "duplication" for the general process (e.g., "data duplication") and "duplicate" for a single copy (e.g., "a duplicate key").
Synonyms
copying (Most general everyday word for making a copy of something.)
|
reproduction (Often used for images, artwork, or sound, and can sound slightly more formal.)
|
replication (Common in technical or scientific contexts, especially about data or experiments.)
Antonyms
original creation (Focuses on producing something new rather than making a copy of something that already exists.)
Collocations
data duplication
|file duplication
|exact duplication
|duplication of records
|duplication of files
Themes
technology
|business
|science
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- The new system prevents duplication of customer records.
- We charge extra for color duplication of documents.
- There was an exact duplication of the contract in the file.
- The technician specializes in the duplication of security keys.
- Frequent duplication of data can slow down the server.
Learner examples
- The company offers fast duplication of documents.
- There is a duplication of this file on your computer.
- We ordered duplication of the training video.
- Duplication of the CD will be finished tomorrow.
- The software stops duplication of the same entry.
Noun
B2
state
2
unnecessary repetition of work
A situation where the same work or service is done more than once when it is not needed.
Usage pattern:
duplication of [work/service/effort]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "duplication" is always neutral. In business and management, it usually has a negative meaning when used with "effort", "services", or "work", implying waste or inefficiency.
Synonyms
redundancy (Common in business and technical contexts; can also refer to extra systems added on purpose for safety.)
|
overlap (Suggests that responsibilities or tasks cover the same area without being clearly separated.)
Antonyms
streamlining (Means making a process simpler and more efficient, often by removing duplication.)
Collocations
duplication of effort
|duplication of efforts
|duplication of services
|needless duplication
|eliminate duplication
|avoid duplication
Themes
business
|administration
|management
|work
Examples
- The merger should reduce duplication of services between the two departments.
- Better coordination will help us avoid duplication of effort.
- The report criticizes the needless duplication in government programs.
- We are trying to cut costs by eliminating duplication across teams.
- There is a lot of duplication between the two databases that needs to be cleaned up.
Learner examples
- There is duplication of work in this office.
- Good planning can stop duplication of effort.
- The manager wants to remove duplication between the two teams.
- Duplication of services makes the project too expensive.
- They changed the process to avoid duplication.
Noun
technical
C1
event
3
extra copy of DNA or gene
In genetics, a change where a piece of DNA or a gene is copied so that there is an extra copy in the cell’s DNA.
Usage pattern:
[gene/DNA] duplication
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "duplication" with "replication" in genetics. "Replication" is the normal copying of DNA during cell division, while "duplication" usually refers to an extra copy being added as a mutation or structural change.
Synonyms
gene duplication (A more specific and common term used when the duplicated unit is a single gene.)
|
duplication mutation (Technical phrase that clearly marks duplication as a type of genetic mutation.)
Antonyms
deletion (In genetics, a mutation where a segment of DNA is lost, the opposite of gaining an extra copy.)
Collocations
gene duplication
|chromosomal duplication
|segmental duplication
|DNA duplication
Themes
science
|biology
|medicine
Examples
- Gene duplication is thought to be a major source of new genetic material in evolution.
- The disorder is caused by a chromosomal duplication on chromosome 15.
- Researchers identified a small duplication in the patient’s DNA sequence.
- This region of the genome has undergone several duplication events.
- A duplication of this gene can lead to abnormal cell growth.
Learner examples
- Gene duplication can create new genes over time.
- The doctor found a duplication in the child’s DNA.
- A duplication of one chromosome can cause disease.
- Scientists study duplication to understand evolution.
- This illness comes from a small DNA duplication.
Grammar
Dictionary form
duplication
IPA
GB/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/
US/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
du - plic - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: duplication
- Plural: duplication, duplications
Word family
Expressions
duplication of effort
1/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən əv ˈɛfɚt/
fixed phrase
wasteful repeated work
A situation where two or more people or groups do the same work when only one needs to do it.
Examples
- Good communication between teams can prevent duplication of effort.
- The new software reduces duplication of effort across departments.
- We need a clear plan so there is no duplication of effort on this project.
duplication of services
1/dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən əv sˈɚvɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
unnecessary repeated services
A situation where the same service is provided by more than one group when this is not needed.
Examples
- The city wants to avoid duplication of services between local agencies.
- The review found duplication of services in healthcare and education programs.
- Merging the charities will reduce duplication of services in the region.
exact duplication
1/ɪɡzˈækt dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
a perfectly identical copy
A copy that is completely the same as the original with no differences.
Examples
- The software allows exact duplication of the original layout.
- We need an exact duplication of this key for the new employee.
- The lab could not produce an exact duplication of the experiment’s results.
needless duplication
1/nˈidləs dˌuplɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
unnecessary and wasteful duplication
Duplication that is not needed and wastes time or money.
Examples
- The report calls the extra paperwork needless duplication.
- We are trying to remove needless duplication from our processes.
- Sharing information between teams can help avoid needless duplication.