To replicate means to make an exact copy of something or to repeat something in the same way. Scientists replicate experiments to make sure their results weren't just lucky accidents. If you can replicate the findings, you know they're real. When researchers discover that a certain fertilizer helps plants grow faster, other scientists try to replicate the experiment in their own labs to confirm it works.

In biology, cells replicate by dividing and copying their DNA to create new cells identical to the original. Computer programs can replicate files, making perfect copies with all the same information.

You might replicate a recipe by following it exactly as written, or replicate a successful strategy your soccer team used in the last game. When something can be replicated, it means the success wasn't just chance or luck. There's a real pattern that works when you follow the same steps.

A replica is the thing created through replication. A replica of the Liberty Bell looks just like the real one, even though it's not the original. Museums often display replicas of fragile artifacts so visitors can see what they look like without risking damage to the real thing.