irreproducible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "irreproducible" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that cannot be reproduced or replicated, often in scientific or technical contexts. Example: "The results of the experiment were deemed irreproducible, leading to further investigation into the methodology used."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

And yet, the very nature of such glitches is that they are essentially irreproducible.

The Economist

The value does not stem from the creation of new structures, plant or equipment, but by the preservation of an irreproducible bounty handed down to us from previous generations.

The Economist

If done correctly, every risotto will be unique, its own irreproducible concoction.

The New Yorker

This is the tragedy of recording: engaged in a task of reproduction, you keep coming up against the irreproducible.

The New Yorker

Slint — or "Spiderland," because the two had become interchangeable — was like that grilled-cheese sandwich bearing the face of the Virgin Mary: an unlikely and irreproducible marvel.

The New Yorker

Both of the productions that I saw had more spark than the Met's first new shows this season, and, unlike the Lincoln Center simulcasts, they provided the irreproducible thrill of live action — what Walt Whitman once called the "liquid world" of operatic art.

The New Yorker

Page's guitar playing was born during an era of British reverence for the American blues, but it went somewhere else entirely, drawing on acoustic English folk guitarists like Bert Jansch and on a battery of studio effects that made his work irreproducible and strange.

The New Yorker

An English scientist named William Henry Fox Talbot had, in the meantime, invented a method for taking photographs using paper instead of a metal plate, and generating a reproducible negative — a Talbotype — rather than an irreproducible, direct positive like the daguerreotype.

The New Yorker

In 2000, when Kong produced "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," it became the most successful foreign-language film ever in the U.S., earning a hundred and twenty-eight million dollars in theatres here, but the steadily shrinking audience for foreign films in the intervening years has made "Crouching Tiger" an irreproducible phenomenon.

The New Yorker

Finally, Ms. Reinhart and Mr. Rogoff allowed researchers at the University of Massachusetts to look at their original spreadsheet — and the mystery of the irreproducible results was solved.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It exposed the ways, most notably the overinterpreting of statistical significance in studies with small sample sizes, that scientific findings can end up being irreproducible or, as a layman might put it, wrong.Dr Ioannidis has been waging war on sloppy science ever since, helping to develop a discipline called meta-research (ie, research about research).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "irreproducible" in scientific writing, clearly define the conditions that make the results non-replicable to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify if it's due to equipment limitations, environmental factors, or inherent randomness.

Common error

Avoid using "irreproducible" when you actually mean "unreliable". "Irreproducible" refers to the inability to replicate a result under similar conditions, while "unreliable" suggests the result is inconsistent or untrustworthy.

Linguistic Context

The term "irreproducible" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that cannot be replicated or duplicated. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this term.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "irreproducible" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective used to describe something that cannot be replicated or duplicated. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its use spans across various contexts, including news, media, and science, with slight variations in formality. The term appears frequently in respected sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When using this term, ensure clarity and avoid confusing it with "unreliable". Understanding its context and alternatives will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not reproducible

A more formal negation of reproducibility.

non-replicable

Emphasizes the lack of ability to duplicate the result.

unrepeatable

Focuses on the impossibility of performing the same process again with identical results.

impossible to duplicate

Directly states the inability to create an exact copy.

cannot be recreated

Directly states that the act of recreating something is not possible.

not able to be replicated

Expresses the inability to replicate in a more verbose way.

unique and unrepeatable

Highlights the singularity and non-recurring nature of something.

one-of-a-kind

Emphasizes the uniqueness and distinctiveness, implying it cannot be replicated.

unmatchable

Focuses on the inability to find something that equals or mirrors the original.

inimitable

Implies that something is so unique that attempts to copy it would fall short.

FAQs

How can I use "irreproducible" in a sentence?

You can use "irreproducible" to describe experiments, results, or phenomena that cannot be replicated. For example, "The experiment's results were deemed "irreproducible" due to uncontrolled variables."

What's the difference between "irreproducible" and "unreproducible"?

"Irreproducible" and "unreproducible" are synonyms. Both terms mean that something cannot be replicated or reproduced. The choice between them is often a matter of stylistic preference.

What can I say instead of "irreproducible"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "non-replicable", "unrepeatable", or "impossible to duplicate".

In what contexts is "irreproducible" most commonly used?

"Irreproducible" is frequently used in scientific research, experimental design, and manufacturing to describe results, experiments, or items that cannot be consistently recreated or duplicated. It's also used in arts to describe effects or works that have a "one-of-a-kind" quality.