If you say that someone or something is having an identity crisis, you mean that it is not clear what kind of person or thing they are, or what kind of person or thing they would like to be.
After Terminator 2, however, Arnie suffered a mid-career identity crisis and gotmixed up in comedy.
...another organization with an identity crisis; its very existence is a matter ofdispute.
identity crisis in British English
(aɪˈdɛntɪtɪ ˈkraɪsɪs)
noun
1. psychology
a state in which a person experiences uncertainty about who they really are and their proper role in life
Dicillo explores Johnny's ensuing identity crisis with humour and affection.
It appears he's suffering from an identity crisis. Is he R'n'B or is he pop-rock?
2.
a state in which a country, organization, etc is subject to disorientation and uncertaintyabout their true role
a robust debate about Britain's identity crisis
No wonder the police force has an identity crisis.
identity crisis in American English
US
the condition of being uncertain of one's feelings about oneself, esp. with regard to character, goals, and origins, occurring esp. in adolescence as a result of growing up under disruptive, fast-changing conditions
Word origin
coined by E. Erikson (1902-94), U.S. psychoanalyst
Examples of 'identity crisis' in a sentence
identity crisis
They were experiencing a communal identity crisis that forced them to ask questions like: Who are we?
Christianity Today (2000)
There was a six-month period of lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling, and really having an identity crisis.