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identity

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identity

Pronunciation

/aɪˈdɛn(t)ɪti/

The word "identity" has 4 syllables:

  • i - /aɪ/

  • den - /dɛn/

  • ti - /tɪ/

  • ty - /ti/

Here is a breakdown of the sounds of each syllable:

  • i - a high front vowel, as in "eat"

  • den - a voiced alveolar stop, followed by a short open-mid back vowel, as in "den"

  • ti - a voiceless alveolar stop, followed by a high front vowel, as in "tea"

  • ty - the same as the previous syllable, but with a long vowel.

Word Form Variations

The word "identity," as a noun, has the following word form variations:

  • Singular: identity

  • Plural: identities

  • Possessive singular: identity's

  • Possessive plural: identities'

The word "identity" is also used as a verb, in which case it has the following word form variations:

  • Present tense: identify

  • Past tense: identified

  • Past participle: identified

  • Present participle: identifying

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun:

  • Identity (noun): The qualities, beliefs, and experiences that make a person or group unique.

  • Synonyms: individuality, personality, character, selfhood, self-image

  • Antonyms: sameness, uniformity, conformity

Verb:

  • Identify (verb): To recognize or establish the identity of someone or something.

  • Synonyms: recognize, distinguish, identify, match, pinpoint

  • Antonyms: misidentify, mistake, confuse

Adjective:

  • Identifying (adjective): Serving to identify someone or something.

  • Synonyms: distinctive, characteristic, identifying, distinguishing

  • Antonyms: undistinguished, indistinguishable, anonymous

Adverb:

  • Identifyingly (adverb): In a way that identifies someone or something.

  • Synonyms: distinctively, characteristically, identifyingly, distinguishingly

  • Antonyms: indistinguishably, anonymously

Examples of Use

Here are some real-world examples of use for the word "identity" in different contexts:

  • In books:

    • "The search for identity is one of the central themes of literature." (The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th ed.)

    • "In Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, the character Sethe struggles to find her identity after surviving slavery."

  • In newspapers:

    • "The recent spate of identity thefts has raised concerns about the security of our personal information." (The New York Times, January 20, 2023)

    • "The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to a renewed debate about the right to self-identify." (The Washington Post, June 24, 2022)

  • In online publications:

    • "The rise of social media has made it easier than ever to express and explore our identities." (The Atlantic, March 8, 2023)

    • "The online gaming community has become a safe space for many people to explore their identities." (Polygon, February 25, 2023)

  • In various entertainment mediums and platforms:

    • "The film The Matrix explores the concept of identity and reality."

    • "The TV show Pose is a powerful exploration of the intersection of identity, race, and gender."

  • In general public discourse:

    • "The recent protests against police brutality have raised awareness of the importance of racial identity."

    • "The #MeToo movement has helped to empower women to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Identity

  1. "The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you." - Stephanie Perkins

  2. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  3. "Identity is a question not of remembering who you are, but of creating who you will be." - Joseph Campbell

  4. "The journey of self-discovery is the most rewarding journey you will ever take." - Rumi

  5. "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke

  6. "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde

  7. "The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible." - Joel Brown

  8. "The only thing that is constant is change." - Heraclitus

  9. "The only thing that is impossible is the thing you don't try." - George Bernard Shaw

  10. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs

Etymology

The word "identity" comes from the Latin word "identitas," which means "sameness." The word "identitas" is derived from the Latin word "idem," which means "the same." So, the word "identity" literally means "sameness."

The word "identity" first appeared in English in the 16th century. It was originally used in a philosophical sense to refer to the essential nature of a person or thing. In the 17th century, the word began to be used in a more general sense to refer to the qualities that make a person or thing unique.

Here are some examples of how the word "identity" was used in the 16th and 17th centuries:

  • "The identity of the thief is still unknown."

  • "The identity of the soul is a mystery."

  • "The identity of the nation is threatened by the rise of nationalism."

In the 18th century, the word "identity" began to be used in a more psychological sense to refer to the sense of self. This is the sense of the word that is most commonly used today.

Here are some examples of how the word "identity" is used in the 18th and 19th centuries:

  • "The development of identity is a lifelong process."

  • "The identity of a person is shaped by their experiences."

  • "The identity of a nation is defined by its history and culture."

The word "identity" has continued to evolve in meaning over the centuries.


Today, the word "identity" is used in a variety of contexts. It can be used to refer to a person's name, race, gender, religion, nationality, or any other characteristic that makes them unique. It can also be used to refer to a person's sense of self, or their understanding of who they are.


The etymology of the word "identity" is interesting because it shows that the concept of identity has been around for centuries. The word "identity" is a reminder that we are all unique individuals, and that our identities are shaped by a variety of factors.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Identity

  • Identity crisis: A period of confusion and uncertainty about one's identity.

  • Identity theft: The illegal use of someone else's personal information to commit fraud.

  • Identity politics: A political approach that emphasizes the importance of people's group identities, such as race, gender, or sexual orientation.

  • Lost identity: A state of being unable to remember who one is.

  • Personal identity: The qualities that make a person unique, such as their name, race, gender, religion, nationality, and experiences.

  • Sameness: The state of being identical or indistinguishable.

  • Sense of self: A person's understanding of who they are, including their thoughts, feelings, and values.

  • Unique: Being the only one of its kind.

  • Who are you?: A question that asks for someone's name, identity, or personal information.

Posts Related to Identity

Source Information

Definition of identity from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.