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Definition of identity noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

        

    identity

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//aɪˈdɛntət̮i//
     
    (pl. identities)
     
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  1. 1[countable, uncountable] (abbreviation ID) who or what someone or something is The police are trying to discover the identity of the killer. Their identities were kept secret. She is innocent; it was a case of mistaken identity. Do you have any proof of identity? The thief used a false identity. She went through an identity crisis in her teens (= was not sure of who she was or of her place in society).
  2. 2[countable, uncountable] the characteristics, feelings, or beliefs that distinguish people from others a sense of national/cultural/personal/group identity a plan to strengthen the corporate identity of the company AWL Collocationsidentifyidentify verb
    • researcher, scholar, scientist, witness
    • analysis, report, research, study, survey
    Prior research identified high school GPA as a predictor of students' academic performance.
    • target
    • pattern, trend
    • characteristic, element
    • variable
    • factor
    • cause
    • source
    Chapter three identifies the patterns of growth over the past century.
    • previously
    • positively
    • accurately, correctly
    • easily, readily
    • clearly
    • incorrectly, mistakenly
    The present research focuses on three behavioral outcomes previously identified.identifiable adjective
    • easily, readily
    • individually
    • clearly
    The pineal gland is an easily identifiable point of reference in X-ray images of the brain.identification noun
    • allow, enable,
    • facilitate, permit
    • preclude
    • verify
    This method facilitates the identification of a large number of herbs.
    • accurate, correct, precise
    • positive
    • false, mistaken
    • eyewitness
    The more extensive analysis needed for precise identification is beyond the scope of this study.identity noun
    • cultural, ethnic, gender, national, racial, regional
    • collective
    • individual, personal
    • mistaken
    A weakening of national identity may well make regional ones stronger.
    • a sense of ~
    Children often derive a sense of identity from their hometown.identified adjective
    • need
    • problem
    • factor
    • issue
    • cause
    • hazard, risk
    • gene
    This survey was designed to determine the level of importance of each of the identified issues.
    • clearly, easily
    • newly
    • recently
    The newly identified chemical structures were recently named in a patent application.identifying adjective
    • characteristic, feature, mark
    The sawfish's most distinctive identifying feature is a broad snout with razor-sharp teeth.
  3. 3[uncountable] identity (with somebody/something) identity (between A and B) the state or feeling of being very similar to and able to understand someone or something an identity of interests There's a close identity between fans and their team.
See identity in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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