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

Essentially, the basic structure of this vaccine is identical to one routinely used to immunise elephants against a virus called cowpox.

From BBC

So if “Peacemaker” viewers were puzzled as to how a backwards, murderous bigot like Earth Prime Auggie could manifest as a doting father and an affluent man in a nearly identical world, now we know.

From Salon

As a tactic, this looks identical to 'screening' in basketball, a move in which a player stands still to block a nearby defender, allowing space for their team-mates to move freely around them.

From BBC

The logic is identical: redefine the threat, erase legal distinctions, and justify force as the first tool.

From Salon

The confusion seems to have arisen because identical or adjacent tickets were often sold for wildly varying prices, a practice known as tiered pricing.

From BBC

Related Words

• exact 
• indistinguishable 
• interchangeable