Definition

Noun: 1. The distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity: The unique set of characteristics, beliefs, and experiences that define who a person is and that remain consistent over time, distinguishing them from others.

Usage

The term "personal identity" is used to discuss the core, enduring sense of self. It is a philosophical and psychological concept focusing on what makes a person the same person over time despite changes.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Philosophical debates often explore what constitutes personal identity.
  • After traveling the world, she returned with a stronger sense of her personal identity.
  • The amnesia patient struggled with questions of personal identity.

Advanced Usage

• "Crisis of personal identity": A period of uncertainty and confusion about one's sense of self.
  • Moving to a new country can sometimes trigger a crisis of personal identity.

Variants and Related Words

• Identity (n): A more general term that can refer to personal identity, social identity, or the state of being the same.
  • The identity of the witness was kept secret.
• Selfhood (n): The quality that constitutes one's individuality; the state of having a distinct identity.
• Individuality (n): The qualities that make a person or thing distinct from others.

Synonyms

• Self
• Individuality
• Personhood

Related Phrases

• Sense of self: One's awareness of their own identity.
  • The artist's work is deeply connected to her sense of self.
• Identity formation: The process of developing a distinct personality.
  • Adolescence is a key period for identity formation.

Noun

1. the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
   • you can lose your identity when you join the army