identical

/aɪˈdentɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /aɪˈdentɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ī-ˈden-ti-kəl ə-/ (ame, mw)

identical — adjective

  • identicalpositive
  • more identicalcomparative
  • most identicalsuperlative

1. used to describe two or more items that match one another in every detail, so th

1.形容詞B1
釋義

used to describe two or more items that match one another in every detail, so that no difference can be seen between them.

例句

The two houses on Maple Street look identical, but one has a red door.

Meera bought a dress identical to the one her friend wore at the wedding.

identical to [something]

同義詞
  • same

    more general and more common; does not always imply exact matching in every detail

  • indistinguishable

    emphasises that the differences are too small to notice; more formal

  • equivalent

    refers to having equal value or effect rather than looking alike

反義詞
  • different

    the most general opposite

  • distinct

    emphasises that each item is clearly separate and unlike the other

文法句型

be + identical + to + [noun phrase]

be + identical + with + [noun phrase]

identical + [noun]

用法筆記

Commonly followed by the preposition to (identical to) or, less frequently, with (identical with). The pattern identical than X is not correct in standard English.

常見錯誤

❌This shirt is identical than the one I own.
✅This shirt is identical to the one I own.
💡identical takes the preposition to, not than.
❌These two phones are identically.
✅These two phones are identical.
💡identical is an adjective; identically is the adverb form.

2. referring to the exact particular person, object, or place already mentioned, wi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

referring to the exact particular person, object, or place already mentioned, without any change or substitution.

例句

This is the identical spot where Eitan proposed to his wife five years ago.

the identical + [noun] + where-clause

Zayd was stopped at the identical traffic light where he had seen the street musician.

同義詞
  • selfsame

    a less common but more precise synonym meaning exactly the same; used before a noun

  • very

    used as an intensifier in phrases like the very same; more informal

反義詞
  • different

    not the same; a separate or distinct person or thing

  • other

    a different one, not the one just mentioned

文法句型

the + identical + [noun]

this/that + identical + [noun]

用法筆記

This sense always appears directly before a noun and is typically preceded by the, this, or that (e.g. the identical house, that identical person). Unlike sense 1, it is never used with the preposition to.

常見錯誤

❌He is the identical man to the one I saw.
✅He is the identical man I saw.
💡When identical means the selfsame, no preposition to follows.
❌They live in identical house where we used to live.
✅They live in the identical house where we used to live.
💡The definite article the is required before identical in this sense.

3. describing twins who developed from a single fertilised egg and therefore share

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describing twins who developed from a single fertilised egg and therefore share all of the same genes.

例句

Yumi and her sister are identical twins, but their personalities are completely different.

identical twin(s)

The study followed a group of identical twins to understand how genes affect health.

同義詞
  • monozygotic

    the technical scientific term; much less common in everyday speech

  • look-alike

    informal term for people who look very similar, not limited to twins

反義詞

文法句型

identical + twin(s)

identical + sibling(s)

用法筆記

Only used with nouns about siblings born from the same pregnancy (twins, triplets). The opposite is fraternal, which describes twins from two separate eggs.

常見錯誤

❌They are identical twins, so they look a bit similar.
✅They are identical twins, so they look very much alike.
💡Identical twins share all genes and typically look very alike, not just a bit similar.
❌She is an identical twin.
✅She and her sister are identical twins.
💡Identical is typically used to describe the pair, not a single person alone.