multiple personality disorder

noun

variants or less commonly multiple personality

: 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 results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : dissociative identity disorder

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

Examples of multiple personality disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bitcoin’s correlation with global economic conditions suffers from multiple personality disorder, making moves in the price impossible to predict. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

Ian Hacking, the philosopher, argued that such a dynamic fuelled the epidemic of multiple personality disorder in the late twentieth century, and something similar seems to be playing out now with the growing portrayal of dissociative identity disorder, the current name for M.P.D., on social media. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

Its protagonist, Isaac, struggles with multiple personality disorder. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 May 2024

Boys To Men Whether intentional or not, Spalletti’s Italy, while maintaining a clear identity and mentality off the field, is still showing signs of multiple personality disorder upon it. —David Ferrini, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

multiple personality disorder

noun

: a neurosis in which the personality becomes separated into two or more parts each of which controls behavior part of the time

Medical Definition

multiple personality 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 results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : dissociative identity disorder

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

—abbreviation MPD