identical

adjective iden·ti·cal \ī-ˈden-ti-kəl, ə-\

: exactly the same

: exactly alike or equal

Full Definition of IDENTICAL

: being the same : selfsame <the identical place we stopped before>

: having such close resemblance as to be essentially the same <identical hats> —often used with to or with

a : having the same cause or origin <identical infections>

b : monozygotic

— iden·ti·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— iden·ti·cal·ness \-kəl-nəs\ noun

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Origin of IDENTICAL

probably from Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitas

First Known Use: 1581

Related to IDENTICAL

Synonyms: same, selfsame, very

Antonyms: another, different, other

Synonym Discussion of 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>.