Adjective

(en adjective)

(not comparable) Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.

* {{quote-book, year=1911, title=Encyclopædia Britannica, chapter=

, passage=By this means as many absolutely identical plates can be produced as may be required, and being hardened they will yield a very large number of prints without any appreciable deterioration.}}

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(not comparable) Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; numerically identical.

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* {{quote-book, year=1922, title=, by=W. C. Firebaugh, author=Petronius,

passage=Nor could I myself look upon this man without some emotion, for he seemed to be the identical  person who had picked up the ragged tunic in the lonely wood, and, as a matter of fact, he was!}}

(not comparable, biology) Of twins, sharing the same genetic code.

(not comparable, mathematics) Exactly equivalent.

(comparable, rare) Approximating or approaching exact equivalence.

* 1788 , , XLI:

The terms of Article 8th are still more identical .

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Adjective

(en adjective)

Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.

* South

For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent .

* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03

, author=(Henry Petroski) , title=Opening Doors , volume=100, issue=2, page=112-3 , magazine= citation , passage=A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.}}

(mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence; equinumerous.

* Comprehensive MCQ's in Mathematics , page 3:

Finite sets A and B are equivalent sets only when n''(A) = ''n''(B) ''i.e. , the number of elements in A and B are equal.

* 1950 , E. Kamke, Theory of Sets , page 16:

All enumerable sets are equivalent to each other, but not to any finite set.

* 2000 , N. L. Carothers, Real Analysis , page 18:

Equivalent' sets should, by rights, have the same "number" of elements. For this reason we sometimes say that '''equivalent sets have the same ''cardinality .

* 2006 , Joseph Breuer, Introduction to the Theory of Sets , page 41:

The equivalence theorem: If both M is equivalent''' to a subset N₁ of N and N is '''equivalent''' to a subset M₁ of M, then the sets M and N are '''equivalent to each other.

(mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.

(chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.

(cartography) Of a map, equal-area.

(geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.

A square may be equivalent to a triangle.