identity
noun
iden·ti·ty ī-ˈden-tə-tē 
ə-,
-ˈde-nə-
plural identities
1
a
: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality
b
: the relation established by psychological identification
2
: the condition of being the same with something described or asserted
establish the identity of stolen goods
3
a
: sameness of essential or generic character in different instances
b
: sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
4
: an equation that is satisfied for all values of the symbols
5
: identity element
Synonyms
- identicalness
- sameness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The identity of the criminal is not known. They produced their passports as proof of their identities. They arrested the wrong man. It was a case of mistaken identity. As children grow, they establish their own identities. people who seem to lack individual identity His art reflects his cultural identity. See More
Recent Examples on the Web The suspect's identity has not been released at this time. 
Landon Mion, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 His identity has not been released and no arrests have been announced. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2022 The woman, whose identity was not immediately released, suffered serious injuries. Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The victim, whose identity has not been released, died at the scene. Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 Sgrignoli's girlfriend, whose identity has not been released, was rescued Sunday, Safechuck said. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Next of kin have been notified of the death of the woman, whose identity will be released in 24 hours, police said. Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 No arrests have been announced in his killing and his identity has not been released by the coroner's office. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 1 Sep. 2022 Police said the man, whose identity had not been released, was found with a rifle, several rifle magazines, incendiary devices, gas mask and helmet nearby. Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 See More
Landon Mion, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 His identity has not been released and no arrests have been announced. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2022 The woman, whose identity was not immediately released, suffered serious injuries. Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The victim, whose identity has not been released, died at the scene. Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 Sgrignoli's girlfriend, whose identity has not been released, was rescued Sunday, Safechuck said. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Next of kin have been notified of the death of the woman, whose identity will be released in 24 hours, police said. Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 No arrests have been announced in his killing and his identity has not been released by the coroner's office. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 1 Sep. 2022 Police said the man, whose identity had not been released, was found with a rifle, several rifle magazines, incendiary devices, gas mask and helmet nearby. Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French identité, from Late Latin identitat-, identitas, probably from Latin identidem repeatedly, contraction of idem et idem, literally, same and same
First Known Use
1545, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Phrases Containing identity
Kids Definition
identity
noun
iden·ti·ty ī-ˈden-tə-tē
plural identities
1
: the set of qualities and beliefs that make one person or group different from others : individuality
Children establish their own identities.
2
: the fact of being the same person or thing as claimed
Can you prove your identity?
3
: the fact or condition of being exactly alike : sameness He proved the identity of the two books' authorship.
Medical Definition
identity
noun
iden·ti·ty ī-ˈden(t)-ət-ē, ə-ˈ
plural identities
1
: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual
2
: the relation established by psychological identification
Legal Definition
identity
noun
iden·ti·ty
plural identities
1
: sameness of essential character or aspect
collateral estoppel requires identity of the issues and the parties
2
a
: separate or distinct existence
when movables lose their identity or become an integral part of the immovable Louisiana Civil Code
Louisiana Civil Code b
: distinguishing character of a person
especially : information (as a name or address) that distinguishes a person
is required to reveal the identity of an informer
but for a mistake concerning the proper party's identity Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 15(c)
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 15(c) 3
: the condition of being the same as a thing or person described, claimed, or accused
character evidence of a suspect's past crimes may be admitted to prove the identity of a crime's perpetrator
identity
noun
1
as in identicalness
the state of being exactly alike although the covers of the two paperback editions of the novel are different, there's a complete identity in the texts Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- identicalness
- similarity
- oneness
- resemblance
- homogeneity
- sameness
- equality
- equivalence
- homology
- homogeneousness
- selfsameness
- accordance
- likeness
- conformity
- congruity
- correspondence
- agreement
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- individuality
- difference
- change
- uniqueness
- distinctiveness
- alteration
- variation
- modification
- disparity
- dissimilarity
- discrepancy
- disagreement
- separateness
- separation
- distinctness
- distinction
- unlikeness
- divergence
- disparateness
- deviance
- variance
- incompatibility
- unusualness
- exoticness
- contrast
- incongruity
- incongruence
- incongruousness
2
as in personality
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people children begin to form their own identity by the age of two Synonyms & Similar Words
- personality
- selfhood
- character
- individuality
- self-identity
- distinctiveness
- uniqueness
- individualism
- singularity
- oneness
- separateness
- idiosyncrasy
- peculiarity
- nature
- temperament
- independence
- singleness
- humor
- disposition
- temper
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conformity
- conventionality