What is the difference between 回答 and 答复? According to 现代汉语词典:

答复


回答问题或要求
对问题或要求做出的回答


回答


对提出的问题、要求给予解答或表示意见
对提出的问题、要求所作出的答复

For me both seem to be practically the same. One uses the other in its explanation.
At least for me, it feels that 回答 is a more general word while 答复 is more formal, and usually used when it involves someone superior. But I'm not sure if this is correct.
So I wonder if there is any difference between them, on its usage as verb.
The two terms are very similar. The difference is how the terms are constructed:  答复 is more like "to reply" (v) or "a reply" (n); while 回答 is more like "to answer" (v) or "an answer" (n)


  答(answer/ reply) 复(reply/return)
  
  答复 = 'answer with a reply' or 'return with an answer'  (to someone's question or request)
  
  or simply "reply" /answer


~


  回(return)答 (answer/ reply)
  
  回答 = return with an answer/reply (to someone's question or request)
  
  or simply "answer" / "reply"


~


  回(return) 复 (reply)
  
  回复 = return with an reply (to someone's question or request)
  
  or simply "reply"