# clones

/ˈkɫoʊnz/ (US) · /klˈəʊnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clones
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. identical copies

noun · CEFR B2

two or more living things or objects that are exact copies of an original.

For teachers: multiple organisms or items produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically or structurally identical.

- The scientists studied the group of clones to see if they all grew at the same rate.
- Ethical debates intensified following the successful production of several mammalian clones in the late twentieth century.

### 2. very similar people or things

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

people or things that look or act exactly like someone or something else.

For teachers: persons or things that closely resemble another, often used to imply a lack of individuality or original character.

- All the new houses in this neighborhood look like clones of each other.
- The critics dismissed the new boy band as mere clones of more successful groups from the previous decade.

## Examples

- Scientists created several clones of the original plant.
- The laboratory produced several clones of the prize-winning sheep to study how they aged in different environments.
- While the original software was expensive, several cheaper clones appeared on the market within months, offering nearly identical functionality for a fraction of the price.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.