identity crisis

noun

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of identity crisis

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 institution or organization regarding its nature or direction

See identity crisis defined for English-language learners

Examples of identity crisis in a Sentence

He is suffering from an identity crisis.

Recent Examples of identity crisis from the Web

If your skin is having an identity crisis, giving you acne one day and dryness another, help your skin find its true self by balancing and nourishing it with Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum.

— janna mandell, San Francisco Chronicle, "Your skin’s secret (antioxidant) weapon? It starts with a C.," 6 Apr. 2018
The Oregonian described the Italian menu as having an identity crisis in a scathing 1986 review.

— OregonLive.com, "Frosty glasses and stiff drinks: 29 long-gone Portland bars we wish were still around," 4 Apr. 2018
This team has a full blown quarterback controversy and a full blown identity crisis.

— jeff seidel, Detroit Free Press, "Three Michigan questions: Should Jim Harbaugh make coaching changes?," 2 Jan. 2018
But the system's identity crisis would harm consumer reception.

— richard moss, Ars Technica, "The Mac gaming console that time forgot," 24 Mar. 2018
In a trice, four million black people in America become white, setting off an identity crisis for the country’s white people: Without black people to define themselves against, who are they?

— parul sehgal, New York Times, "Two Classic American Novels About the Madness and Beauty of Race," 9 Jan. 2018
In many respects, West Virginia has long been mired in a localized version of the national party’s identity crisis: When does compromise become toxic?

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "West Virginia's teachers ended their historic walkout in a deal with the state's Republican governor. But at what cost?," 7 Mar. 2018
But the results also foreshadowed the unresolved identity crisis facing Democrats nationally as the primary season kicked off, leaving that coveted blue wave a real but still distant possibility.

— robert costa, Washington Post, "Democrats see wave of enthusiasm but still face an identity crisis," 7 Mar. 2018
Villagers complimented Brittany on her light skin, which didn't help her identity crisis.

— jim stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stingl: Raised in West Allis, young woman returns to Vietnam to find her birth mom," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'identity crisis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of identity crisis

1941

IDENTITY CRISIS Defined for English Language Learners

identity crisis

noun

Definition of identity crisis for English Language Learners

: a feeling of unhappiness and confusion caused by not being sure about what type of person you really are or what the true purpose of your life is

Medical Dictionary

identity crisis

noun

medical Definition of identity crisis

: 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

Learn More about identity crisis

Nglish: Translation of identity crisis for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about identity crisis

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identity crisis

Definition of identity crisis

Examples of identity crisis in a Sentence

Recent Examples of identity crisis from the Web

First Known Use of identity crisis

IDENTITY CRISIS Defined for English Language Learners

identity crisis

Definition of identity crisis for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

identity crisis

medical Definition of identity crisis

Learn More about identity crisis

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identity crisis

Definition of identity crisis

Examples of identity crisis in a Sentence

Recent Examples of identity crisis from the Web

First Known Use of identity crisis

IDENTITY CRISIS Defined for English Language Learners

identity crisis

Definition of identity crisis for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

identity crisis

medical Definition of identity crisis

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