identical

[ahy-den-ti-kuhl, ih-den-]

adjective

1. similar or alike in every way.

   The two cars are identical except for their license plates.

2. being the very same; selfsame.

   This is the identical room we stayed in last year.

3. agreeing exactly.

   identical opinions.

   Synonyms: equal, congruent, congruous

identical

/ aɪˈdɛntɪkəl /

adjective

1. Also called: numerically identical. being one and the same individual

   Cicero and Tully are identical

2. Also called: quantitatively identical. exactly alike, equal, or agreeing

3. designating either or both of a pair of twins of the same sex who developed from a single fertilized ovum that split into two Compare fraternal

Other Word Forms

• identically adverb
• identicalness noun
• nonidentical adjective
• pseudoidentical adjective
• quasi-identical adjective
• quasi-identically adverb
• unidentical adjective
• unidentically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of identical¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin identic(us) identic + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of identical¹

C17: from Medieval Latin identicus , from Latin idem the same

Example Sentences

The texture and appearance of both coffees seemed identical.

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Their structure is almost identical to that of today's Great White shark.

Read more on Science Daily

People must remain in the same position for the system to work effectively, or everyone in a shared space would need to use identical equipment at the same time.

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With implausibly identical language, they testified that they had heard her speak of sunken Allied ships after a naval battle in October 1944:

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K5, with a "similar but not identical" coding system to K4, is also to be released after the current auction sale.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• exact 
• indistinguishable 
• interchangeable