# indistinguishable

/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəɫ/ (US) · /ˌɪndɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indistinguishable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

so similar to something else that you cannot see any difference between them.

For teachers: impossible to differentiate or tell apart from something else. Often used with the preposition 'from'.

## Examples

- The fake watch is indistinguishable from the real one.
- To the untrained eye, the two species of butterfly are indistinguishable when they are in flight.
- Advances in synthetic materials have made some artificial fabrics indistinguishable from natural silk in both texture and appearance, even to experienced textile experts.

## Pitfalls

- Not "indistinguishable to the original" but "indistinguishable from the original" — The adjective 'indistinguishable' typically takes the preposition 'from' to indicate the point of comparison.

## Usage notes

- Typically used predicatively after a linking verb and followed by the preposition 'from'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.