identical

adjective

iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈden-ti-kəl 

ə-

1

: being the same : selfsame

the identical place we stopped before

2

: having such close resemblance as to be essentially the same

identical hats

—often used with to or with

3

a

: having the same cause or origin

identical infections

b

: monozygotic

identically

ī-ˈden-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ə-

adverb

identicalness

ī-ˈden-ti-kəl-nəs 

ə-

noun

Synonyms

• same
• selfsame
• very

Choose the Right Synonym for identical

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another.

same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Examples of identical in a Sentence

We visited the identical place we stopped at last year.

They were wearing identical coats.

The boxes were identical in shape.

They drove virtually identical cars.

The results were identical to those of the first test.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though the completion rates for Black students at California State University schools are higher, the disparity is nearly identical to the community college gap: 48% of Black students complete degrees from CSUs in six years’ time — 12 points fewer than the average of 60%. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 7 June 2024

After posting nearly identical numbers in May and April, Sanchez had arguably a career game on the month’s final day. —Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 1 June 2024

Researchers in Japan have run experiments in which multiple polo shirts—identical except for their colors—are left outside on sunny days. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 28 May 2024

Buttons are the simplest way to dress them up, and this pair from Belle Poque looks identical to Lawrence’s in my opinion. —Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitas

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing identical

• identical twin
• self-identical

Kids Definition

identical

adjective

iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈdent-i-kəl 

ə-ˈdent-

1

: being one and the same

the identical place we stopped at last year

2

: exactly alike or equal

wearing identical coats

identically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

identicalness

-kəl-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

identical

adjective

iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈdent-i-kəl, ə- 

: monozygotic

identical twins