simulacrum

[sim-yuh-ley-kruhm] / ˌsɪm yəˈleɪ krəm /

NOUN

copy

Synonyms

STRONG

Photostat Xerox archetype carbon cast clone counterfeit counterpart ditto duplicate effigy ersatz facsimile forgery image impersonation impression imprint likeness microfiche mimeograph miniature mirror model offprint parallel pattern photocopy photograph portrait print reduplication reflection replica replication representation reprint reproduction rubbings similarity simulation study tracing transcript transcription type

WEAK

carbon copy ectype hard copy

Antonyms

STRONG

difference dissimilarity entity opposite original unlikeness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When George secretly attended a robot football game, his simulacrum told Jane he had to work late.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The risks would be far greater if the interactions were taking place outside of a clinical setting, or for “re-animation” technologies like griefbots, which offer a simulacrum of speaking to a deceased loved one.

From Slate • Dec. 18, 2025

Apparently, a lot of folks feel seeing people in the real world is too taxing, and it's easier to refract your urge for connection to an app that offers only an inch-deep simulacrum.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2025

Similarly, the jokes throughout seem like they’re supposed to be laugh lines, but are really just a simulacrum of humor, quips without wit.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

I could make a simulacrum of the draccus, but then what?

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Vocabulary lists containing simulacrum

Hidden Figures

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List 7

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An Ember in the Ashes

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