What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Original vs Duplicate - What's the difference?

original | duplicate |

As adjectives the difference between original and duplicate

is that original is relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others while duplicate is being the same as another; identical. This may exclude the first identical item in a series, but usage is inconsistent.

As nouns the difference between original and duplicate

is that original is an object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived while duplicate is one that resembles or corresponds to another; an identical copy.

As a verb duplicate is

to make a copy of.

original

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (label) Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1944, author=(w)
    • , title= The Three Corpse Trick, chapter=5 , passage=The hovel stood in the centre of what had once been a vegetable garden, but was now a patch of rank weeds. Surrounding this, almost like a zareba, was an irregular ring of gorse and brambles, an unclaimed vestige of the original common.}}
  • (label) First in a series or copies/versions.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, […].}}
  • (label) Newly created.
  • (label) Fresh, different.
  • (label) Pioneering.
  • (label) Having as its origin.

    • Synonyms

    * (first in series ) initial * autograph * prototype

    Antonyms

    * copy * derivative * reproduction * simile

    Derived terms

    * originally * original sin

    Related terms

    * origin * originality * originate * originative * aboriginal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived
    • This manuscript is the original
  • A person with a unique and interesting personality and/or creative talent
    • You’re an original
  • (archaic) An eccentric

    • Synonyms

    * autograph * prototype

    Antonyms

    * copy * remake * reproduction

    Statistics

    *

    External links

    * * ----

    duplicate

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • being the same as another; identical. This may exclude the first identical item in a series, but usage is inconsistent.
    • This is a duplicate entry.

    Verb

    (duplicat)
  • to make a copy of
    • If we duplicate the information, are we really accomplishing much?
  • to do repeatedly; to do again
    • You don't need to duplicate my efforts.
  • to produce something equal to
    • He found it hard to duplicate the skills of his wife.

    See also

    * repeat

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One that resembles or corresponds to another; an identical copy.
    • This is a duplicate , but a very good replica.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • I send a duplicate both of it and my last dispatch.
  • (legal) An original instrument repeated; a document which is the same as another in all essential particulars, and differing from a mere copy in having all the validity of an original.
    • (Burrill)
  • The game of duplicate bridge.
  • * 1999 , Matthew Granovetter, Murder at the Bridge Table (page 6)
    • The momentary madness which infects bridge players occurs frequently at rubber bridge and duplicate ; and though it rarely results in murder, it often terminates marriages and close friendships
  • The game of duplicate Scrabble.

    • Synonyms

    * reproduction