What does replicant mean?
A replicant is principally a science-fiction term for a humanoid artificial being created to resemble a human being closely enough to be indistinguishable in appearance. Such figures often raise questions about identity, memory, consciousness, and the moral status of artificial people. The word was introduced by Philip K. Dick in his 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and it subsequently became strongly associated with depictions of artificial humans in science fiction. Outside fictional contexts, replicant can occasionally describe an exact copy or an artificial counterpart, although it is less usual than words such as duplicate, replica, or clone. Its distinctive sound and implications make it especially effective for discussions of technology that imitates human appearance or behavior while potentially challenging the idea of a uniquely human identity.
A humanoid artificial being created as a physical replica of a human being, especially in science fiction.
"The engineer discovered that the replicant had been programmed with false memories."
Chiefly a science-fiction term; android is broader in meaning.
An artificial or exact copy of a person or thing, especially one presented as an independent counterpart.
"The portraitist produced a replicant of the vanished king."
This broader sense is uncommon outside literary and technological contexts.
The plural is used when referring to multiple humanoid artificial beings or copies.
"Several replicants escaped from the research facility."
The word was coined by science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick for an artificial human indistinguishable from the person it copied.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does replicant come from?
Replicant was coined by Philip K. Dick in the title of his 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. It was formed from replicate, meaning to reproduce or make an exact copy, with the suffix -ant denoting a person or thing that performs a specified action. Its figurative use refers to an artificial person modeled on a human being.
How replicant is actually used
The word is chiefly associated with science fiction and is usually more specific than android. In general usage it is uncommon and may sound literary or deliberately futuristic.
Easily confused with replicant
A replicant is a fictional humanoid duplicate, while an android is a broader term for a machine or artificial being designed to resemble a human.
A replica is a copy of an original object, whereas a replicant commonly denotes a humanoid artificial being in science fiction.