Identity

Pronunciation

• IPA: /aɪˈdentÉ™ti/

Origin

From Middle French identité, from Latin idem ("the same"). See identical and idem.

Full definition of identity

Noun

1. The sameness some individuals share to make up the same kind or universal.
2. The difference or character that marks off an individual from the rest of the same kind, selfhood.
3. A name or persona—the mask or appearance one presents to the world—by which one is known.This criminal has taken on several identities
4. Knowledge of who one is.I've been through so many changes, I have no sense of identity.This nation has a strong identity.
5. (algebra, computing) Any function which maps all elements of its domain to themselves.
6. (algebra) An element of an algebraic structure which, when applied to another element under an operation in that structure, yields this, second element.

Synonyms

• selfhood
• identity function

Derived terms

Related terms