MEANING
So similar under the relevant conditions that no difference can be detected between them.
Use it for
describing cases that cannot be told apart by a measure; qualifying claims of similarity to the available evidence; distinguishing observational sameness from actual identityLimits a claim to differences that cannot be detected under stated conditions, rather than asserting absolute identity. Academic functions: Comparison / Contrast.
Words that belong together
- indistinguishable from
- virtually indistinguishable
- observationally indistinguishable
On the page
The two explanations are observationally indistinguishable with the available data.
Without contextual information, the copied passage is virtually indistinguishable from the original.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- indistinguishable
Usage notes
Normally non-gradable; often virtually or practically indistinguishable. Use indistinguishable from, or indistinguishable in + specified respect. Register: formal. Commonness: moderately common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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