Indistinguishable
/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Indistinguishable describes things that look, sound, or seem exactly the same, so you cannot tell one from the other. It is often used when differences are too small or not clear enough to notice.
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See It in Action
Impossible to tell apart because of exact similarity
- •The twins were indistinguishable in their school uniforms.
- •The fake painting was indistinguishable from the original.
- •The two voices on the phone were almost indistinguishable.
So close in quality or appearance that no difference can be noticed
- •The new phone model is indistinguishable from the old one at first glance.
- •Their handwriting was indistinguishable, making it hard to know who wrote the note.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "indistinguishable" like "same," but stronger — it means you really cannot find any difference at all.
- ✓Picture two identical twins wearing the same clothes and hairstyle so you cannot tell who is who.
- ✓It feels like confusion or surprise when you try to tell two things apart but fail.
- ✓Sounds like "in-DIS-ting-gwish-able" → Imagine trying to "distinguish" (tell apart) but you just "can't" (in- means 'not').
- ✓Imagine a magic trick where a coin looks exactly like another coin, and you can’t pick the real one.
- ✓NOT like "similar" (which means close but with small differences) — indistinguishable means no visible or clear difference.
- ✓NOT like "different" (things that are not the same) — indistinguishable means the opposite, no difference.
- ✓NOT like "confused" (a feeling) — indistinguishable describes the things themselves, not how you feel.
Try Other Words
- •Identical: exactly the same (Use when you want to say things are completely alike in every detail)
- •Similar: almost the same but with small differences (Use when things are close but not exactly the same)
- •Alike: having a similar appearance or nature (Use in casual contexts to say things look or seem similar)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "in-" meaning "not"
- •Root: "distinguish" meaning "to recognize or tell the difference"
- •Suffix: "-able" meaning "able to be"
- •Origin: From Latin roots; "distinguish" comes from Latin "distinguere" meaning "to separate" or "to mark differences"
- •Historical: The word evolved in English to describe things that cannot be told apart, especially in careful observation
- •Modern use: Used in many fields like science, art, and daily life to describe exact similarity or inability to tell things apart
Reflect & Connect
•Can two things be truly indistinguishable, or do small differences always exist if we look closely enough?
•How does the idea of indistinguishability affect how we trust information or objects in everyday life?
Fill in the blanks
1.The identical twins were so ___ that even their parents sometimes got confused about who was who.
2.When two colors are ___, it is hard for people with normal vision to tell them apart.
3.The counterfeit money was ___ from the real bills, so the cashier did not notice the difference.
4.Unlike "similar," ___ means there is no visible or clear ___ between two things.
5.In the test, the two answers were ___, making it difficult to choose the right one.
6.The voices on the recording were ___, so listeners could not identify who was speaking.
7.If two products are ___, customers might choose based on price or brand instead of quality.