Main Entry: iden·ti·cal

Pronunciation: \ī-ˈden-ti-kəl, ə-\

Function: adjective

Etymology: probably from Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitas

Date: 1581

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

synonyms see same

— iden·ti·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— iden·ti·cal·ness \-kəl-nəs\ noun