one and the same
phrase
: one person or thing and not two
The restaurant's owner and chef are one and the same (person).
Video
'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?
Is it 'one in the same' or 'one and the same'? Senior Editor Emily Brewster explains.
Transcript
Sometimes a word that sounds like the right word and feels like the right word isn't actually the right word, it's an eggcorn. The acrobat and the farmer who are the same person aren't "one in the same," they're "one and the same." You don't have to choose between being an acrobat and a farmer. You can be one and the same.
Cite this Entry
“One and the same.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20and%20the%20same. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
