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

This creates what might be called the entrepreneurial identity crisis—the challenge of maintaining authentic purpose while pursuing necessary growth. —Charles Towers-Clark, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Paramount+ has been in a bit of an identity crisis in the streaming era. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025

Boy Scouts name change follows decade-long identity crisis Former Scout leader, Jerry Gerlach, and Selby Chipman, an Eagle Scout of the 2021 inaugural female class, reacted to The Boy Scouts of America's name change and the organization's evolution. —Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2025

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