split personality

noun

1

a

: schizophrenia

—not used technically

b

: multiple personality disorder

—not used technically

2

: a dual nature or character

a city with a split personality

Examples of split personality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Where Google’s business model revolves around collecting the world’s digital assets, Amazon has more of a split personality, one that has led to some odd relationships. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2010

In execution, however, the film exhibits something of a split personality by awkwardly moving between cutesy soap operatic romance and an unsparing, oft-devastating portrait of the myriad hurdles facing foreign workers. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024

For the last several weeks, Alexei Navalny has been a man living with a split personality. —Joshua Yaffa, Foreign Affairs, 25 July 2013

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

split personality

noun

1

: multiple personality disorder

—not used technically

2

: a double character or nature

a city with a split personality

Medical Definition

split personality

noun

1

: schizophrenia

—not used technically

2

: multiple personality disorder

—not used technically