duplicative

Duplicative is an adjective describing something that involves duplication or repetition. It can refer to processes, artifacts, or effects that create an additional copy, or that produce redundancy in systems, data, or actions. The term is widely used across fields to highlight the presence or risk of unnecessary repetition.

In linguistics, duplicative (often used interchangeably with reduplicative) refers to the repetition of a word, part of a word, or a syllable to convey grammatical or semantic meaning. Reduplication can express iterative aspect, plurality, intensity, or emphasis, and languages vary in which segments are repeated and how the repetition alters meaning. Some languages use complete reduplication, while others employ partial reduplication to mark tense, aspect, or number.

In policy, administration, and healthcare, duplicative efforts or services describe activities that duplicate work performed elsewhere, leading to inefficiency, higher costs, and potential confusion. Organizations often pursue measures to reduce duplication through coordination, information sharing, standardized procedures, and clearly defined responsibilities to improve effectiveness and conserve resources.

Etymology: the word derives from Latin duplicare, from duo, two, reflecting the sense of forming a second copy. Related terms include duplicate, duplication, redundancy, and reduplication.