Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

personal identity

noun

Definition of personal identity 

: the persistent and continuous unity of the individual person normally attested by continuity of memory with present consciousness

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about personal identity

Share personal identity

Resources for personal identity

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near personal identity

personal holding company

personalia

personal idealism

personal identity

personal income

personal insurance

personalise

Statistics for personal identity

Look-up Popularity

Comments on personal identity

What made you want to look up personal identity? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

de rigueur

required by fashion, etiquette, or custom

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

  • scrabble-tiles-that-read-scrabble-quiz
  • Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games