dissociative identity disorder

noun

: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and that results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : multiple personality disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder especially in medical contexts.

Examples of dissociative identity disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among their lofty goals was a Pi that had multiple personalities, like a cyborg Sybil with a dissociative identity disorder. —IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2025

For one thing, repressed and recovered memories can frequently play a role in people’s experience of dissociative identity disorder, which, while not well understood, reportedly impacts millions of people. —Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Traumatic events can induce dissociative identity disorder, but at what point did Amber’s bifurcated personality turn her into a monster? —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

Locklear was likely referring to a season 4 storyline in which it is revealed that Cross’s character, Kimberly Shaw, suffers from severe mental illness, including dissociative identity disorder. —John Russell, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dissociative identity disorder

• boarder
• border
• corder
• order
• warder
• camcorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Medical Definition

dissociative identity disorder

noun

: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and that results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : multiple personality disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder especially in medical contexts.