self-identify

verb

self-iden·ti·fy ˌself-ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī

-ə-ˈden-

self-identified; self-identifying; self-identifies

intransitive verb

: identify sense intransitive 2

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of self-identify was in 1969

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Self-identify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-identify. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Entry added

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lout

Listen to the pronunciation of lout

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs