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identity

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English

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Etymology

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    From Middle English ydemptite, from Middle French identité and its etymon Late Latin idemptitās, identitās, from idem (“the same”) + -tās (suffix forming abstract nouns) as a calque of Ancient Greek ταὐτότης (tautótēs, “sameness”).[1][2]

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    identity (countable and uncountable, plural identities)

    2. (now chiefly in technical usage) Sameness, identicalness; the quality or fact of (several specified things) being the same.
      Synonyms: identicalness, identicality, sameness; see also Thesaurus:sameness
      Antonyms: unidenticality, nonidentity; see also Thesaurus:difference
      Coordinate terms: equivalence; fungibility, interchangeability; commensurateness; similarity; resemblance
      Benjamin Franklin established the identity of electricity and lightning.
      • 1664, H[enry] More, chapter X, in Synopsis Prophetica; or, The Second Part of the Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity: […], London: […] James Flesher, for William Morden […], →OCLC, book I, page 264:
        But whenas a leſſer number of Agreements in each Paralleliſm (provided there were nothing contrary) could not but have been a ſtrong preſumption of the Identity of the Subjects of the Viſions in each Chapter, I mean, That the Two-horned Beaſt and the Whore are one, and the Seven-headed Beaſt in each Chapter the ſame; how fully aſſured muſt we needs be of theſe Identities, the Agreements of theſe two Paralleliſms (thoſe paſſages onely excepted of which I have given ſo fair an account) perfectly exhauſting the whole ſubſtance of each Chapter?
      • 1997, “Hydrothermal Vent Fauna”, in Advances in Marine Biology: The Biogeography of the Oceans, page 111:
        […] suggesting the two are different stages of the same species. The identity of the two species is further suggested by allozyme analysis […]
    4. The difference or character that marks off an individual or collective from the rest of the same kind; selfhood; the sense of who something or someone or oneself is, or the recurring characteristics that enable the recognition of such an individual or group by others or themselves.
      Synonyms: individuality; see also Thesaurus:selfhood
      I've been through so many changes, I have no sense of identity.
      This nation has a strong identity.
    6. A name or persona—a mask or appearance one presents to the world—by which one is known.
      This criminal has taken on several identities.
      In this show, the competitor's identity will remain secret until after the vote.
    7. (mathematics) An equation which always holds true regardless of the choice of input variables.
      The equation (x+y)(x−y) = x2−y2 is an algebraic identity. It is true regardless of the values of x and y.
    9. (algebra, computing) Any function which maps all elements of its domain to themselves.
      Synonym: identity function
    10. (algebra) An element of an algebraic structure which, when applied to another element under an operation in that structure, yields this second element.
      Zero is the identity for the addition of real numbers.
    12. (Australia, New Zealand) A well-known or famous person.
      Synonyms: celebrity, personality
      • 1887 July 19, “Drowned at Williamstown”, in The Age‎[1], Melbourne:
        The body of a well known old identity named James Conroy […] was found in the water yesterday afternoon…
      • 2013 April 4, “Cricket identities consult lawyers”, in New Zealand Herald:
      • 2016 January 13, “Kings Cross identities arrested in connection with murder”, in The Sydney Morning Herald:
      • 2026 June 15, Chris Marriner, “‘The Coast was his home’: Local identity dies days after he was hit by a car”, in Stuff‎[2]:
        The 79-year-old man who died days after he was struck by a car in Westport was a local identity who was well known for his walks around town.

    Hyponyms

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    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • → Japanese: アイデンティティー

    Translations

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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    References

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    1. ^ “idemtitẹ̄, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
    2. ^ “identity, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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