identical item

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "identical item" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an item that is exactly the same as another item. An example would be: "Please send me an identical item to replace the damaged one." Alternative expressions include "same item" and "duplicate item."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But it appears that in a couple of cases, an identical item was bought from a grocery store.

The New York Times

One portrait shows her fingering a tapestry overmantle she was stitching, and it's satisfying to see an identical item in the room.

Independent

But if you see something you like on DisturbingAuctions.com, you can use the Personal Shopper feature on eBay (if you can find it) to request an e-mail note if an identical item is listed in the future.

The New York Times - Tech

Though many New Yorkers are eager to hold holiday cocktail parties, Super Bowl buffets and Oscar-night get-togethers, anecdotal evidence suggests that when it comes to dinner, we'd rather pay $32 for miso-glazed salmon than prepare and enjoy the identical item in the intimacy of our own homes.

The New York Times

In fact, except for a limited range of goods consisting mainly of primary products, it is very difficult to describe a product completely enough so that different pricing agents can go into stores and price an identical item on the basis of description alone.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The apparatus and stimuli for Experiment 5 were similar to those used in Experiment 3 except that each identical item was replaced by a unique cartoon animal.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

They sell mostly identical items, for mostly the same price.

The New Yorker

A basket of identical items costs 30% more in France, says a study by La Tribune, a daily.Rising fuel and food prices are worrying consumers all over Europe.

The Economist

Then, I compared them with identical items at Amazon, looking in particular for the ones among the 40,000 or so that are now available for subscription.

The New York Times

Recognising the difference between two similar but not identical items reflects a deep level of memory retention, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Independent

Once a dealer could dazzle a customer with the story behind an 1894 opium bottle; now thousands of identical items can be found online.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In commercial writing, use this phrase to clarify price-matching policies or replacement guarantees to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "identical item" when you actually mean a "similar item". If there are minor variations in color, size or brand, the word "identical" is technically incorrect and can lead to misunderstandings in legal or scientific contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "identical item" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "identical" modifies the noun "item". In Ludwig AI examples, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "buy", "price" or "request".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "identical item" is a highly reliable and grammatically correct expression used to denote a total lack of variation between two objects. Ludwig AI data shows that it is a staple in scientific research to describe control stimuli and in economic reports to discuss price variations for the same goods. Unlike more casual terms, it conveys a sense of technical precision. Whether you are writing an academic paper or a business policy, using "identical item" ensures your audience understands that the correspondence is exact, not merely similar. It is widely supported by high-authority sources including The New York Times and various scientific journals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exact duplicate

stresses that the second object was created to be a perfect copy of the first

same item

more common in casual speech and can sometimes refer to the very same physical object

indistinguishable article

highlights the impossibility of telling two items apart

equivalent product

often used in retail or chemistry to denote items that serve the same purpose despite brand differences

uniform item

focuses on the lack of variation within a group of products

matching piece

suggests the item belongs to a set or fits with another

twin item

informal way to describe two items that are identical in appearance

carbon copy

an idiomatic expression suggesting a perfect imitation

replica

often used for art or historical artifacts

fungible unit

a technical economic term for items that are completely interchangeable

FAQs

What can I say instead of "identical item"?

Depending on your context, you can use terms like "exact duplicate", "same product" or "matching piece".

Is it correct to use "identical item" in a sentence?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. For example, you might say, "I ordered an "identical replacement" for the broken vase."

What is the difference between a "similar item" and an "identical item"?

A ""similar item"" shares some characteristics but may have differences, whereas an "identical item" has no differences at all.

When should I use "identical item" in business writing?

It is best used when discussing inventory management, price matching or insurance claims where an "equivalent replacement" is required.