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 institution or organization regarding its nature or direction

Examples of identity crisis in a Sentence

He is suffering from an identity crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

She’s broken through her varying identity crises by way of her music— hence why her debut EP is aptly titled Identity Crisis. —Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 9 May 2025

These shifts point to a broader identity crisis in the manosphere. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

McKellar has spoken before about how the end of The Wonder Years and her pivot to school coincided with something of an identity crisis for her younger self. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 13 May 2025

Yes, the musical rests on the identity crisis of a smudge of inked celluloid. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

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