duplikát

Duplikát is a noun used in Czech and Slovak to denote an exact copy of an original item, especially a document or object, intended to have the same evidentiary or functional value as the original. The word derives from Latin duplicatus, through older forms in European languages, and is commonly contrasted with a mere kopie (copy) by its potential for official use or authentication in certain contexts.

In administrative and legal practice, a duplikát refers to an officially issued duplicate. It is often requested when the original document is lost, damaged, or temporarily unavailable. Examples include duplikát občanského průkazu (duplicate national ID card), duplikát rodného listu (duplicate birth certificate), or duplikát pasu (duplicate passport). Such copies may require verification, authentication, or notarization to be accepted as evidence in procedures, registrations, or court matters. In archival settings, a duplikát may also describe a faithfully produced reproduction that preserves the information of the original while the original is kept or relocated.

In information technology and everyday language, the term duplikát may be used to describe a duplicate file, record, or dataset that is identical to another. While often used interchangeably with kopie, duplikát carries nuance of an official, legitimate, or purpose-built copy, especially when accompanied by marks of authentication or legal validity. Overall, the concept centers on a precise, functional replication of an original item.