identity
iden·ti·ty
noun \ī-ˈden-tə-tē, ə-, -ˈde-nə-\ plural iden·ti·ties
Definition of IDENTITY
1
a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2
a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
3
: the condition of being the same with something described or asserted <establish the identity of stolen goods>
4
: an equation that is satisfied for all values of the symbols
5
See Examples of IDENTITY
- The identity of the criminal is not known.
- They produced their passports as proof of their identities.
- They arrested the wrong man. It was a case of mistaken identity.
- As children grow, they establish their own identities.
- people who seem to lack individual identity
- His art reflects his cultural identity.
Origin of IDENTITY
Middle French identité, from Late Latin identitat-, identitas, probably from Latin identidem repeatedly, contraction of idem et idem, literally, same and same
First Known Use: 1570
Related to IDENTITY
Synonyms: identicalness, sameness
Antonyms: difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, unlikeness
Related Words: oneness, selfsameness; homogeneity, homogeneousness, homology; equality, equivalence; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, likeness, resemblance, similarity
Other Psychology Terms
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