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facsimile

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facsimile
noun
fac·sim·i·le | \ fak-ˈsi-mə-lē \

Definition of facsimile
1 : an exact copy A facsimile of the world's first computer was exhibited at the museum.
2 : a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter (such as printing or still pictures) by means of
signals sent over telephone lines
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn
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Synonyms for facsimile

Synonyms

alter ego, carbon, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), double, duplicate,
duplication, fetch, image, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting
image, twin

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Choose the Right Synonym for facsimile

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another. reproduction
implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing. reproductions from the museum's furniture collection
duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing. a duplicate of a house key
copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically. printed 1000 copies of the
lithograph facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale. a facsimile
of a rare book replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details a replica of the
Mayflower but not always in the same scale. miniature replicas of classic cars

Did You Know?

The facsimile machine (or fax machine) has been a staple of the modern office for a while now, and its name is
much, much older. Fac simile is a Latin phrase meaning "make similar." English speakers began using
facsimile as a noun meaning "an exact copy" in the late 1600s. In this sense, a facsimile might be a handwritten
or hand drawn copy, or even a copy of a painting or statue. (Today, we also use the phrase "a reasonable
facsimile" for a copy that is not exact but fairly close.) In the 1800s, people developed facsimile technology
that could reproduce printed material via telegraph. Now, of course, we use telephone lines or wireless
technology, and we usually call the resulting facsimile a fax.

Examples of facsimile in a Sentence

A facsimile of the world's first computer was exhibited in the museum. the family resemblance is so strong that
the boy is virtually a pint-size facsimile of his father

Recent Examples on the Web

The Japanese are known as expert copyists, but don’t expect an exact facsimile of Western food. — Stan
Parish, WSJ, "‘Go Beyond Sushi’: Tokyo’s Culinary Gems," 19 June 2018 The homesteads of some literary
figures offer only a facsimile of the way a person lived, as possessions were sold or lost and buildings eroded.
— New York Times, "Time Is Running Out for Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Upstate Retreat," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage
of the word 'facsimile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or
its editors. Send us feedback.

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