identity
gb/aɪdˈɛntɪti/ us/aɪdˈɛntɪti/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Who someone is
Who someone is, including their name, appearance, and what makes them different from others.
Usage pattern:
[someone's] identity
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'identity' with 'identification'. 'Identification' is the process or document that proves who you are, while 'identity' is the state of being that person.
Synonyms
self (More focused on a person's sense of their own being rather than official or external recognition.)
|
character (Refers more broadly to moral and personality traits, not necessarily the full set of identifying features.)
Antonyms
anonymity (The state of being unknown or without an identifiable name or features.)
Collocations
personal identity
|cultural identity
|national identity
|identity crisis
|identity theft
Themes
society
|psychology
|culture
|relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her cultural identity is very important to her.
- The witness refused to reveal his identity.
- Traveling abroad made him think deeply about his own identity.
- The artist explores themes of identity in her work.
Learner examples
- My name is part of my identity.
- He does not want to tell his identity.
- We talk about our cultural identity in class.
- She is proud of her identity.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Official proof of a person
Something, like a card or paper, that shows who you are.
Usage pattern:
to show [one's] identity
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'identity' instead of 'ID' or 'identification' in casual speech.
Synonyms
identification (Commonly used in this context; often interchangeable but slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
impersonation (Pretending to be someone else, the opposite of proving your true self.)
Collocations
show identity
|check identity
|verify identity
Themes
law
|daily life
|business
|daily_life
Examples
- You must show your identity at the border.
- The police officer asked for proof of identity.
- Online banking requires verification of your identity.
Learner examples
- I showed my identity to the guard.
- Please check my identity before I enter.
- The bank wants to see my identity.
Noun
technical
B2
state
3
Exact sameness
When two things are exactly the same.
Synonyms
equivalence (More common in technical or formal contexts, especially in logic and science.)
Antonyms
difference (The state of not being the same.)
Collocations
numerical identity
|logical identity
Themes
logic
|mathematics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In mathematics, identity means that two expressions are equal for all values.
- Philosophers debate the identity of objects over time.
- The twins had an uncanny identity in appearance.
Learner examples
- Two plus two has identity with four.
- These shapes have identity in size.
- The cups have identity in color.
Grammar
Dictionary form
identity
IPA
GB/aɪdˈɛntɪti/
US/aɪdˈɛntɪti/
Syllables & stress
iden - tity (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: identity
- Plural: identities, identity
Word family
Forms
identities
noun
Core family
identify
verb B1
identification
noun B1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unidentified
adjective
unidentifiable
adjective
Advanced or less common
identifier
noun
misidentify
verb
Expressions
proof of identity
1/pɹˈuf əv aɪdˈɛntɪti/
fixed phrase
Evidence showing who you are
A paper or card that shows who you are.
Examples
- You need proof of identity to open a bank account.
- The guard asked for proof of identity before letting us in.
identity crisis
1/aɪdˈɛntɪti kɹˈaɪsəs/
fixed phrase
Doubt about who you are
A time when someone feels unsure about who they are or what they believe.
Examples
- After losing his job, he went through an identity crisis.
- Teenagers often have an identity crisis.
- Teenagers often experience an identity crisis as they grow up.
identity theft
1/aɪdˈɛntɪti θˈɛft/
fixed phrase
Stealing personal information for fraud
When someone uses another person's personal information to steal money or do other crimes.
Examples
- Identity theft has become a serious problem online.
- The bank called me because there were signs of identity theft on my account.
- She was a victim of identity theft after her wallet was stolen.
- Using strong passwords can help protect you from identity theft.
- Identity theft often happens when criminals get your credit card details online.