identity

[aɪˈdɛntəti]

identity Definition

• 1. the characteristics, feelings or beliefs that distinguish people from others
• 2. the qualities or beliefs that make a particular person or group different from others
• 3. the fact of being who or what a person or thing is

Using identity: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "identity" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She struggled with her identity as a first-generation immigrant.

• Example

  The company's brand identity is built around sustainability and eco-friendliness.

• Example

  The thief used a fake identity to open bank accounts in other people's names.

identity Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for identity

• individuality
• personality
• distinctiveness
• character
• self

Antonyms for identity

• sameness
• uniformity

Idioms Using identity

• in someone's identity

  an essential part of someone's character or personality

  Example

  Her love for animals is deeply ingrained in her identity.

• lose one's identity

  to become unrecognizable or indistinguishable from others

  Example

  The small town lost its identity after the big chain stores moved in.

• take on an identity

  to assume a new persona or role, often temporarily

  Example

  She took on the identity of a journalist to get access to the restricted area.

Phrases with identity

• identity theft

  the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain

  Example

  He had to spend months sorting out the mess caused by identity theft.

• identity crisis

  a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected roles or status in society

  Example

  After losing his job, he went through an identity crisis and wasn't sure who he was anymore.

• gender identity

  a person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth

  Example

  Transgender individuals often experience a disconnect between their gender identity and the gender they were assigned at birth.

Origins of identity

from Latin 'identitas', meaning 'sameness'

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Summary: identity in Brief

The term 'identity' [aɪˈdɛntəti] refers to the characteristics, beliefs, and qualities that distinguish people from others. It can also refer to the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. Examples include 'She struggled with her identity as a first-generation immigrant.' and 'The thief used a fake identity to open bank accounts in other people's names.' Phrases like 'identity theft' and 'gender identity' are common, while idioms like 'in someone's identity' and 'lose one's identity' express the importance of identity in shaping a person's character and personality.