identity crisis

noun

1

: personal psychosocial conflict especially in adolescence that involves confusion about one's social role and often a sense of loss of continuity to one's personality

2

: a state of confusion in an entity, institution, or organization regarding its nature or direction

England is the last place on earth one would expect to find a national identity crisis, yet … the English are now asking, "What is my nation?"

—Wilson Quarterly

Examples of identity crisis in a Sentence

He is suffering from an identity crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Singh and Jaggseer, like Beyoncé and Lil Nas X before them, highlight an identity crisis afflicting modern country music. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

On Mule, Peck unpacks his addiction, the breakup and the identity crisis that nearly cost him his life. — Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Soul searching over transgender issues is one facet of a sprawling identity crisis that Democrats are confronting during the midterms and before the next presidential election. — Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Much like the character at the center of VisionQuest, the Marvel show itself went through a brief identity crisis. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for identity crisis

• ecdysis
• haemoptysis
• hemoptysis
• lysis
• phthisis

Medical Definition

identity crisis

noun

: personal psychosocial conflict especially in adolescence that involves confusion about one's social role and often a sense of loss of continuity to one's personality