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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Fresh Prince is going through an identity crisis. Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 July 2025 Ethereum has been struggling with an identity crisis fueled by uncertainty about the network’s value proposition, weaker revenue since its last big technical upgrade and increasing competition from Solana. Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 2 July 2025 In the early twentieth century, however, Hollywood already had a much less philosophical identity crisis on its hands. Literary Hub, 24 June 2025 David Henry Hwang’s identity crisis David Henry Hwang’s play Yellow Face exemplifies the diversity-inclusion-equity (DIE) games that no doubt will continue at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) even after federal funding is withdrawn. Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for identity crisis

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of identity crisis was in 1941

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Cite this Entry

“Identity crisis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20crisis. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on identity crisis

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