adj.
- Being the same: another orator who used the senator's identical words.
- Exactly equal and alike.
- Having such a close similarity or resemblance as to be essentially equal or interchangeable.
- Biology. Of or relating to a twin or twins developed from the same fertilized ovum and having the same genetic makeup and closely similar appearance; monozygotic.
[From Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitās, identity. See identity.]
identically i·den'ti·cal·ly adv.identicalness i·den'ti·cal·ness n.
USAGE NOTE Some authorities on usage specify with as the preferred preposition after identical, but either with or to is acceptable.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
