Replacement Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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replacement

[rษชหˆpleษชsmษ™nt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

word

The action or process of replacing someone or something.

Synonyms

alternative, fill-in, stand-in, substitute, surrogate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
replacement

When you need to describe someone or something that takes the place of another, especially in a formal or specific situation.

  • The teacher is on leave, so they hired a replacement.
  • Our company finally found a replacement for the broken printer.
substitute

To describe someone or something that serves in place of another, especially in contexts involving sports, education, or cooking.

  • The coach sent in a substitute player after the injury.
  • You can use honey as a substitute for sugar in this recipe.
stand-in

Used when talking about someone who temporarily takes the place of another person, especially in performance or public presentations.

  • During the rehearsal, the stand-in actor took the lead role.
  • She's the stand-in judge on the talent show this week.
fill-in

Informal contexts where someone temporarily takes over duties or responsibilities, often for a short period of time.

  • Iโ€™ll be the fill-in manager while the boss is on vacation.
  • We need a fill-in for the receptionist who called in sick today.
surrogate

Mainly used in legal, medical, or emotional contexts to describe someone acting in place of another, often for a very specific role or relationship. Can have a formal or emotional meaning.

  • She became a surrogate mother for the couple.
  • He's like a surrogate father to him since his own dad passed away.
alternative

Used when offering a different option or choice, especially when there are limited options to choose from.

  • We need to find an alternative route to avoid traffic.
  • If you don't like milk, soy milk is a great alternative.

Examples of usage

  • He was brought in as a replacement for the injured player.
  • She made several replacements to the original recipe.
  • The replacement of the old machine with a new one was necessary.
  • Finding a replacement for her in the team proved to be difficult.
  • The replacement of the CEO led to significant changes in the company.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • In biology, replacement can refer to the process of cells regenerating, such as skin cells renewing after a cut.
  • Replacement therapy, a common medical practice, involves providing a deficient hormone or nutrient to enhance health.
  • In engineering, replacement parts are critical for maintaining the functionality of machines and devices.

Pop Culture

  • Movies often explore themes of replacement, such as in stories where a new character takes the role of a beloved one, showing how change affects relationships.
  • In sports, management often makes crucial replacement decisions, substituting players to improve the team's performance.
  • Television shows sometimes replace main characters, leading to fan reactions ranging from excitement to disappointment.

Psychology

  • The concept of replacement can be related to coping mechanisms, where individuals replace a negative memory with a positive one to improve mental health.
  • In behavioral psychology, rewarding a bad habit with a good one involves replacement, aiming for positive behavioral changes.
  • The psychology of loss involves understanding how people find replacements for things or relationships that are no longer present in their lives.

Literature

  • In many stories, the theme of replacement highlights personal growth, where characters replace old traits with new, more positive ones.
  • Replacement can symbolize the struggle between old vs. new ideas in literature, as seen in dystopian narratives where the past is transformed.
  • Classical literature often features characters who attempt to replace their fate or destiny, reflecting deeper philosophical questions.

Origin of 'replacement'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'replacement' comes from the Latin 'replacere', which means 'to place back'.
  • It entered the English language around the late 15th century, initially relating to the act of taking something and putting it back.
  • The prefix 're-' means 'again', combined with 'place' gives the sense of putting something back in its spot or position.

The word 'replacement' originated from the verb 'replace' which comes from the Latin word 'replacere', meaning 'to put back'. The concept of replacing something or someone has been present in human society for centuries, as the need to substitute or exchange items or individuals is a common occurrence in various aspects of life.


See also: irreplaceable, replaceability, replaceable, replaceably, replacer, replacing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,522, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.