WordGarden.ioreproducible
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪprədjˈuːsəbəl/
US
Meanings
Adjective
able to be copied, recreated, or produced again closely
able to yield the same result when a study, analysis, or workflow is rerun under similar conditions
Beyond the definition
Imagine a famous recipe: if it's reproducible, other people can follow the steps and get nearly the same tasty dish. That's the basic idea. Something reproducible can be copied, repeated, or recreated in a reliable way. Scientists need experiments to be reproducible so other researchers can check the results. In manufacturing, a company wants a process that gives the same quality again and again. In software, a reproducible build means the same code produces the same result each time.
The word reproducible describes something capable of being copied or repeated accurately. It goes beyond simply being able to make another one; it implies a level of consistency and reliability in the replication process. Think of it like this: a snowflake is beautiful, but not reproducible – each one is unique. A mass-produced toy car, however, is reproducible because many identical copies can be made.
The context where you'll most often encounter "reproducible" is in scientific research. A key principle of good science is that experiments must be reproducible by other scientists to confirm the results. If an experiment isn't reproducible, its findings are viewed with skepticism.
However, reproducible isn't limited to science. It can apply to manufacturing, design, education, and software development. A factory may aim for reproducible quality, meaning each product comes out the same. A teacher may want a classroom method that works well each time it is used. In software development, "reproducible builds" mean that given the same source code and setup, you get the exact same output every time.
Essentially, if something can be reliably copied or recreated without significant variation, it's reproducible. It speaks to consistency, reliability, and the ability to share and verify results or creations.
Examples
- 1
Scientific results
The researchers repeated the experiment several times to make sure the results were reproducible.
- 2
Troubleshooting
The error only happens once in a while, so it is hard to make the problem reproducible.
- Patternmake a problem reproducible
make it happen again in the same way
- 3
Workplace process
We need a reproducible process for training new staff, not one that changes from manager to manager.
- 4
Research data
The paper includes the code and the data, so the analysis should be fully reproducible.
See also
Similar
- repeatable
- replicable
- duplicable
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- irreproducible
- random
Used with (collocations)
- reproducible results
- reproducible experiment
- reproducible build
Word family
Explore
- replication
- scientific method
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- reproducibleadjective