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

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

The breakthrough could redefine the future of virtual and augmented reality by creating visuals that look identical to real life. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Idaho had passed an almost identical law three years earlier. —Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025

Yet in a move that’s out of character for the automaker that prides itself on offering seemingly unlimited levels of customization, each car will be identical—there’s no option for personalization. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025

Key Takeaways Natural and synthetic caffeine are chemically identical and provide a boost of energy in the body. —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for identical

• conventicle
• denticle
• tentacle

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