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

From the beginning, F1 struggled with an identity crisis. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025

By Melissa Fleur Afshar Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 Millennials, who paved the way for the style bloggers and influencers of today, are facing a fashion identity crisis in 2025. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

What looks like an identity crisis is actually Chiara’s pursuit of her spiritual foundation — the search that con artist TV shows like Henry Louis Gates’s Finding Your Roots has perverted into political correctness — social-justice equity for the rich and famous. —Armond White, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025

Between the lines: Top Democrats are divided on how to confront Trump, as the party faces an identity crisis following the 204 election. —Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for identity crisis

• ecdysis
• haemoptysis
• hemoptysis
• lysis
• phthisis

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