Replicate-Duplicate | Commonly Confused Words

Replicate

/ˈrepləkeɪt/

To make an exact copy of something

/ˈdjuːpləkət/

An exact copy or something that is the same as something else.

Replicate often implies making a copy in the context of experiments or studies, like repeating an experiment to verify results.
Duplicate typically suggests making an exact copy, and is often used in the context of duplicating documents or files.
Think of replicate when you consider biological or scientific contexts, and duplicate when considering copying paper documents or digital files.
Replicate can also involve variations during the process, while duplicate suggests an identical likeness.
Replicate might imply a process or action, whereas duplicate focuses more on the result or object created.