Exactly the same or very similar; Being the very same person or thing
The detective placed the two documents side by side and studied every detail. The signatures were completely identical, matching perfectly in every curve and stroke, making it impossible to tell which was the original and which was the copy.
This meaning is about two or more things being exactly alike. Imagine buying two shirts and realizing they’re the same — same color, same size, same fabric. These shirts are identical, impossible to tell apart. This is being identical. You might say two apartments look identical because they have the same layout, or someone could notice that twins wear identical outfits. Or picture two exam papers that are identical, making the teacher suspect cheating. The word suggests a perfect match. ✏️ Very common with softeners: “almost/nearly/virtually identical” — truly identical things are rare in everyday life.
Vivid example: The company produced thousands of identical copies of the product, each one looking exactly the same — same shape, same weight, same packaging — so customers never knew which factory had made theirs.
This meaning is about the exact same thing — not comparing, but saying “this is THE one.” Imagine returning to a café and sitting at the identical table where you had your first date, feeling memories flood back. This is the identical thing. You might visit your old school and walk the identical hallway you remember, or someone could return to the identical town they grew up in. Or picture finding the identical ring you lost years ago. The word carries deep recognition. ✏️ Here identical means “the very same one” — not a comparison between two things.
Vivid example: Years later, she visited the old neighborhood and found the identical tree she used to climb as a child, still standing in the same spot with the same crooked branch where she used to sit and read for hours.
Examples from the street
“These two bags look identical — I can’t tell which one is mine.” → They look exactly the same / I genuinely cannot see any difference between them
“She made the identical mistake again!” → She made the exact same error a second time (frustration)
“They’re wearing virtually identical outfits — that’s awkward.” → Their clothes are almost exactly the same / nearly impossible to tell apart
– identical to [something] → exactly the same as something else
– identical in [feature] → the same in a specific way (size, shape, colour, etc.)
– look/seem/appear identical → appear to be exactly the same
– almost/nearly/virtually identical → extremely similar but not perfectly the same
– identical [noun] + [noun] → two or more things that are exactly alike (identical twins, identical copies)
– the identical [noun] → the very same one (not a copy — the actual thing)
Example Sentences
1. The two contracts are identical to each other — there’s not a single difference
→ The two agreements are exactly the same — you won’t find even one thing that’s changed.
2. Her new phone looks identical to the old one, so why did she bother upgrading?
→ Her new device appears exactly the same as the previous one, so what was the point of spending the money?
3. The houses on this street are almost identical — it’s easy to walk into the wrong one
→ The homes along this road are nearly the same in every way — you could easily open the wrong front door by mistake.
4. They’re identical twins, but their personalities couldn’t be more different
→ They look exactly alike, but the way they behave is completely opposite.
5. The fake painting was virtually identical to the original — even experts were fooled
→ The forgery was so close to the real artwork that even professionals couldn’t tell them apart.
6. Both samples are identical in size and weight, but the texture is slightly different
→ The two pieces match exactly when it comes to how big and heavy they are, but they feel a little different when you touch them.
7. She gave me the identical excuse she used last time — word for word
→ She came up with the exact same reason she gave before — literally the same words.
8. The two cities seem identical on the map, but they feel completely different when you visit
→ The two places appear to be the same when you look at the layout, but the experience of actually being there is nothing alike.
9. His answer was nearly identical to mine — the teacher thought we’d copied from each other
→ What he wrote was almost exactly the same as my response — the instructor suspected we’d cheated off one another.
10. These two products are identical in quality, so just buy whichever is cheaper
→ Both items are exactly the same standard, so go with the one that costs less.
Learner Examples
1. Two students submitted essays that were virtually identical — clearly one of them had copied from the other
→ Two learners handed in papers that were almost exactly the same — obviously one of them had taken the work from the other.
2. The grammar structure in Turkish is not identical to English, which is why direct translation often sounds unnatural
→ The way sentences are built in Turkish doesn’t match English exactly, which is why converting word for word usually sounds strange.
✔ Native usage tips
– “Identical to” not “identical with” — in everyday spoken English, people almost always say “identical to.” “Identical with” exists in formal British writing but sounds unusual in conversation
– “Almost/nearly/virtually identical” is more common than plain “identical” — native speakers tend to soften the claim because truly being 100% the same is rare, so you’ll hear the hedged version far more often
– “Identical twins” is a fixed expression — this is by far the most common use of the word in daily life. It refers specifically to twins who developed from one egg and look exactly alike
– “The identical” = the very same one, not a copy — “She used the identical excuse” doesn’t mean a similar excuse — it means literally the exact one, word for word. This usage is slightly more formal
– Don’t overuse for “similar” — learners sometimes say “identical” when they mean “similar.” If there are noticeable differences, use “similar” or “alike” instead. “Identical” means zero difference
– “Same” vs “identical” — “same” is far more common in casual speech. “They’re the same” is natural; “they’re identical” sounds slightly more precise or dramatic. In speaking, reach for “same” first
✔ Similar expressions / words
– The same → the most common everyday alternative; less formal and less emphatic; “they’re the same” is more natural in casual conversation than “they’re identical”
– Alike → means similar in appearance or nature; slightly softer than “identical”; “they look alike” allows for small differences while “they look identical” means zero difference
– Indistinguishable → more formal; means you literally cannot tell them apart; stronger than “identical” in emphasis; “the copies were indistinguishable from the originals” sounds more technical