'reproduce' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'reproducere', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'producere' (from 'pro-' + 'ducere') meant 'to lead forth' or 'bring forth'.

'reproduce' changed from Latin 'reproducere' into Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms and entered English via Middle French/Late Middle English as forms like 'reproducen' before becoming the modern English 'reproduce'.

Initially, it meant 'to lead or bring forth again', and over time it evolved into the modern senses of 'make a copy of', 'recreate', and 'produce offspring'.