identical

adjective

iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈden-ti-kəl How to pronounce identical (audio)
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
identically adverb
identicalness noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2022, the state governor’s race map was virtually identical. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024 Cytochrome c oxidase is a gene sequence critical enough to be conserved and nearly identical across individuals, but slight variations mean the gene can be used to easily distinguish between species. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024 The two children’s bedrooms have identical access to a shared bathroom. Marta Sader, Architectural Digest, 2 Nov. 2024 That ruling bolstered arguments from defendants in identical cases that simply because a business is engaged in subscription streaming doesn’t mean that all of its products are within the scope of the law. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for identical 

Word History

Etymology

probably from Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitas

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of identical was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near identical

Cite this Entry

“Identical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identical. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

identical

adjective
iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈdent-i-kəl How to pronounce identical (audio)
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 adverb
identicalness noun

Medical Definition

identical

adjective
iden·​ti·​cal ī-ˈdent-i-kəl, ə- How to pronounce identical (audio)
: monozygotic
identical twins

More from Merriam-Webster on identical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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