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

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

Here, Isaac plays a man with dissociative identity disorder, giving us not one but three distinct characters: mercenary Mark Spector, British gift shop employee Steven Grant, and the mysterious—and seemingly ominous—Jake Lockley. —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 19 Nov. 2024

Another medical name that's been changed is dissociative identity disorder – a condition that affects only about 1.5% of people and was formerly called multiple personality disorder, or split personality disorder. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024

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.